‘Natural History of Selborne and The Naturalist’s Calendar’ c1903/4

By Gilbert White, the late Rev., formerly of Oriel College, Oxford. Published by Blackie & Son Ltd, London, Glasgow and Dublin. First published in 1789, this edition circa 1903/4, and a series of letters by White to other naturalists with his observations on nature around Selborne, Hampshire. Illustrated with 4 engravings, The White Owl (frontispiece), The Frog, The Sparrow Hawk and Swallows & Martins. Gilbert White (1720 - 1793), Fellow of the Royal Society, was a pioneering English naturalist and ornithologist and regarded by many as England’s first ecologist, shaping attitudes to having a respect for nature.

8vo 5.5” x 7.5”. 252pp. Full navy calf with gilt decoration to spine and to margins of both boards, board edges and around borders of marbled pastedown. Marbled endpapers and page edges. Five raised bands and gilt decoration and title to spine and gilt emblem to front board for The Wells School, Malvern. Founded in 1870, the school became one of the country’s leading preparatory school for boys. Pen inscription to front free endpaper, L B Petley, July 1912.

Condition: Fine and very clean with only slight rubbing to spine ends and board corners and minor fading to spine. Tissue guard to frontispiece intact and clean. Spine detached from pages but book strong and sound. A handsome copy.

England, circa 1903 - 4