Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australasia: Being Observations Principally on the Animal and Vegtable Produces of New South Wales, New Zealand and some of the Austral islands

FIRST EDITION, chromolithograph frontispiece, tissue guard, 7 chromolithograph plates by J. Wolf, W. Fitch and George Angas, numerous text illustrations, occasional light offsetting, original blind stamped cloth, title lettered in gilt, 8vo, John Van Voorst, 1860.

“a practical, well illustrated guide to the productions of Australia and an active attempt to protect certain Australian species such as the echidna, the emu and the notornis” (Wettenhall). The book contains an extensive chapter on the platypus, which the author calls a water mole, together with a plate of the subject. Fitch, who painted the botanical subjects, was one of the most respected botanical artists of his time. Other illustrations are by the artists G.F. Angas, Thomas Baines and Joseph Wolf, each a highly respected and important natural history artist.

An important contribution including marine biology, ornithology, bird migration, plants including those with agricultural application, etc. Ripley 26, Ferguson 6929, Wood 231, Wettenhall 17, Whittle p.49