This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1781 edition. Excerpt: ...tail very short: the body generally bare, as is the case in general with the swine of India. Its wild breed is found in great numbers in New Guinea, and in the iflands of that country, which the Papuas chace in their canoes, as the animals are swimming from islancl to illand, and kill them with lances, ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1781 edition. Excerpt: ...tail very short: the body generally bare, as is the case in general with the swine of India. Its wild breed is found in great numbers in New Guinea, and in the iflands of that country, which the Papuas chace in their canoes, as the animals are swimming from islancl to illand, and kill them with lances, or shoot them with arrows. They are also found on the ifland of Gilolo, and resort eagerly to the places where sage trees have lately been cut down, to feed on the pith left there, which makes them very fat. They are said to appear, with their little black pigs, like so many flies on a table. New Guinea must originally have supplied with hogs such of the illands of the South Sea, which are happy enough to possess these animals. They passed first to the New Hebrides, thence to the Friendly Isler, the Society, and the Marqaesas. All the islands to the east, and even New Caledonia, a little to the south, are destitute of them. They are of the same variety with the Cbimse, and are more delicious food, being fed with plantanes, bread fruit, and yams: but are often too fat for an European stomach. They are the animals which are sacrificed to the lesser deities of the isies: are roasted whole, placed on altars, and left there to decay. A The priests support my notion of the place of their origin: men, dogs, hogs, poultry, and rats, say they, came originally from an island, which they style the Mother of Land:: i. e. some island comparatively vastly larger than their own. This island is probably New Guinea, where the same species of hog, and the currish fox-like dog, are found. As Captain Forrq/zl informed me that New Guinea is destitute of rats, it is not unlikely but that they were imported by some of the early navigators, and, escaping from the..
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Seller's Description:
Good. Book. 4to-over 9æ-12" tall. Volume II only. 324 pages plus index, frontispiece, 51 plates, 1 text illustration. Contemporary leather binding. Edges and corners rubbed, tears in leather top of spine, old name and date front fly leaf, some foxing, a few wormholes in the gutter of rear endpapers not effecting text.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. No Dust Jacket. 4to. 306 pages, plus 60 plates; 324 pages, plus 51 plates. Collated with "Catalogue of Plates" and complete. Contemporary full polished calf bindings. Slightly raised spine bands with red and black leather spine labels and gilt stamped lettering/decoration. Top cover of Volume II is missing, and bottom cover is detached but present. Remaining covers are rubbed and scuffed, though spine remains bright and clean. Lettering on spine labels is very good, though date at foot of spine is rubbed and a little faded. Book plate on front paste down of Volume I, and inked name and date on blank front free end leaf of both volumes. Scattered light to moderate foxing, offsetting, stains throughout, though all of contents are clear and bold. Five leaves at end of Volume two in index show small amount of rodent nibbles along outside edge. Text blocks remain tight. Due to the size and weight of this set, extra charges may apply for Priority and/or International shipping.
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Seller's Description:
Various. Good. An important two volume work on natural history from popular naturalist Thomas Pennant. This acclaimed work of Thomas Pennant, a renowned Welsh naturalist of the eighteenth century, was 'originally intended for private amusement' but was quickly expanded from the 'Synopsis of Quadrupeds' in its first edition, to the 'History of Quadrupeds' in this much expanded third edition. A naturalist whose work impressed Carl Linnaeus, Thomas Pennant developed this comprehensive index of quadrupeds over several years and included an array of illustrations of the animals from various illustrators. Inscription to front end paper of both volumes: Pigott. Sticker to front end paper of both volumes: D.S. Macey 1944. Two volumes. Collated, with 109 monochrome plates and the two vignette title pages as called for. Complete. This incredible work of natural history inspired many scientific and artistic minds of the day, and Pennant's legacy of inciting awe has not been lost. Rebound in tree calf, with original spine laid on. Externally, generally sound, with bumping and rubbing to spine and extremities of both volumes. Front board of volume one is held by one cord only and may detach with further handling. Internally, both volumes generally firmly bound, save for first six pages of volume one which are grouped to the front board and are held by one cord only. Pages are generally bright and clean, with some handling marks throughout. Good.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good+ Contemporary tree calf, rebacked, with gilt-stamped lettering in black morocco spine label, ornament gilt-stamped direct on spine; 2 volumes, 4to; pp. [2], 284; [2], xxiv, 285-566, [16], including engraved title-pages, penultimate ad leaf, and final blank; with 52 engraved plates. Some very light scuffing and bumping at corners and along edges of boards, otherwise the bindings are in excellent shape. Overall internally clean, with some faint offsetting from plates, a little scattered foxing here and there, early ownership signatures on title-pages. "Flaws" are certainly very minor--a beautifully illustrated set, attractively bound. Nissen ZBI 3108.
