Item #15114 Mammalia, Recent and Extinct. An Elementary Treatise for the Use of the Public Schools of New South Wales. [Part B. Pinnata. Seals, Dugongs, Whales, &c., &c., &c.]. A. W. SCOTT.
Mammalia, Recent and Extinct. An Elementary Treatise for the Use of the Public Schools of New South Wales. [Part B. Pinnata. Seals, Dugongs, Whales, &c., &c., &c.]
Mammalia, Recent and Extinct. An Elementary Treatise for the Use of the Public Schools of New South Wales. [Part B. Pinnata. Seals, Dugongs, Whales, &c., &c., &c.]
Mammalia, Recent and Extinct. An Elementary Treatise for the Use of the Public Schools of New South Wales. [Part B. Pinnata. Seals, Dugongs, Whales, &c., &c., &c.]

Mammalia, Recent and Extinct. An Elementary Treatise for the Use of the Public Schools of New South Wales. [Part B. Pinnata. Seals, Dugongs, Whales, &c., &c., &c.]

Sydney, Thomas Richards, Government Printer, 1873.

Octavo, xii, 142 (last blank), viii (index, last blank), [2] (list of 'Australian Works on Natural History, published at Sydney', last blank) pages.

Flush-cut quarter cloth and papered card covers lightly worn at the extremities; spine a little sunned and split at the foot of the front joint, with the author's name written later in ink on it; covers and adjacent leaves a little foxed; minimal signs of use and age; a very good copy.

Alexander Walker Scott (1800-1883), the author of this uncommon and interesting work, was the father of the naturalists and botanical artists Harriet and Helena (later, Harriet Forde and Helena Morgan). In the lengthy preface, he explains why the publication of this, the second part of the work, precedes the first (in fact never published). 'Whatever information we possess upon the natural history of the finned mammals, particularly in a popular, yet scientific form, has been so scantily and unequally distributed, that in this direction a comparatively new field may be said to be open to the teacher as well as to the youthful enquirer.

Influenced, also, by the great commercial value of several species of the pinnata, I have felt anxiously desirous to direct without further delay the attention, and thus possibly secure the sympathy, of readers, other than students, to the necessity of prompt legislative interference, in order to protect the oil and fur producing animals of our hemisphere, or at least some of them, against the wanton and unseasonable acts committed by unrestrained traders'. Provenance: Walter Champion Hackett (1864-1938), a well-known South Australian nurseryman, whose extensive collection of books was sold by auction in Adelaide soon after his death. Some 3252 lots were offered for sale; the 'Hackett Sale' inkstamp and pencilled lot number (1114) appear on the inside rear cover.

Item #15114

Price (AUD): $550.00

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