WOLF, Joseph (1820-1899). Zoological Sketches ... made for the Zoological Society of London, from animals in their vivarium, in the Regent's Park. Explanatory text by D.W. Mitchell and Philip Lutley Sclater. London: Henry Graves & Company,...

WOLF, Joseph (1820-1899). Zoological Sketches ... made for the Zoological Society of London, from animals in their vivarium, in the Regent's Park. Explanatory text by D.W. Mitchell and Philip Lutley Sclater. London: Henry Graves & Company, [1856-]1861-1867.

First edition, with 100 very fine plates after Wolf: 'without exception, the best all-round animal painter that ever lived' (Sir Edwin Landseer). The work was commissioned by the Council of the Zoological Society in 1852, to provide 'an accurate artistic record of the living form and expression of the many rare species of animals which exist from time to time in the menagerie'. The council chose Wolf, already well-known for his work for the ornithologists Rüpell and Gould. The plates were issued monthly with the accompanying temporary text for parts I-VII written by David William Mitchell, secretary to the society. On Mitchell's death in 1859, Sclater undertook the completion of the work, selecting the subjects and writing both the temporary letterpress and the permanent text which was issued with the thirteenth and final part. Anker 539; BM(NH) V,p.2349; Fine Bird Books (1990) p.158; Nissen IVB 1012; Wood p.633.

2 volumes, broadsheet (560 x 421mm). Vol. 1: hand-coloured lithographic title, lithographic title, letterpress title, list of subscribers, preface and list of plates all window mounted; vol. 2: hand-coloured lithographic title mounted, letterpress title, preface and list of plates. Together, 100 fine hand-coloured lithographic plates, drawn on stone by Joseph Smit after the drawings of Joseph Wolf, each plate cut to the edge of the image and mounted on thin card in imitation of watercolours, with captions printed in gilt, that for plate VII in vol. 1 erroneously printed twice on recto and verso (light spotting throughout, heavier at beginning and end of the volumes, predominantly affecting text). Contemporary red half morocco gilt (extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance: Frederick du Cane Godman (bookplate).

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