£55
Spiders:
British Spiders, an introduction to the study of the Araneide of Great
Britain and Ireland, E. F Stavely, pub. Lovell Reeve & co. 1866 1st
edition. Octavo. 280pp. 16 coloured plates. Publisher's catalogue to
rear. Blue cloth with a gilt illustration of a spider on the front panel.
The spine is slightly darkened. A very good, solid copy of this classic
work by Eliza Fanny Staveley [1831-1903]. Pencil annotations by the
book's owner, West including a handwritten page tipped in at the front
listing other works which reference the spider.
With
British Insects, A familiar description of the form, structure, habits,
and transformations of insects, E. F. Stavely. pub. L. Reeve and Co.
no date [c. 1871]. Octavo. 392pp. 16 coloured plates (15 to the rear
of the book, plate I is the frontispiece). Bookseller's catalogue to rear.
Blue cloth with gilt illustration of an ancient Greek fellow, possibly
trying to think up a word to describe the study of insects. Pencil
annotations by the book's owner, West including a handwritten page
tipped-in at front used as a key to the frontispiece.
With
Harvesting Ants and Trap-Door Spiders, Notes on their Habits and
Dwellings, by J. Traherne Moggridge, FLS. Pub. L. Reeve & co. 1873.
Bound with Supplement to Harvesting Ants and Trap Door Spiders
with separate title page, dated 1874. Publisher's catalogue to rear. 304
pp 20 plates of which four are double page coloured plates. Pencil
annotations. Large octavo. Blue cloth. gilt vignette monogram to front
panel. Abrasion with loss of cloth at foot of spine. Mottling and loss of
colour from cloth to bottom of the front panel, spine and rear panel.
Despite the (cosmetic) damage to the boards, the book remains a solid
example of this work.
(3)
The following lots of books represent the library of George West.
West's biographical details are hard to pin down, his date of birth
unknown, (probably around the 1880's) and his death sometime after
1945. He is known to have worked as an assistant and then lecturer in
Botany at the University of Dundee from 1906. At that time the
university was a constituent college of St Andrews University. West
seems to have remained there until around 1926. In his publication
'Practical Principles of Plain Photo Micrography' (1916) he describes
himself as a lecturer in Botany. Most of the books in the sale bear the
handstamp, 'George West' to the front pastedowns. Many volumes bear
extracts from booksellers' catalogues with prices of the titles,
suggesting that West liked to keep up with the current values of his
library.
The books represent a working library and many are also
annotated in pencil in his hand, cross-referencing other works and
adding his comments. To the front of the first volume of Walker's
Diptera (see lot no.) he has inserted his handwritten poem, 'To the
Future Owners of this book'.
Geordie has now turned up his toes
And gone aloft to seek repose
From various varmints nips and stings,
Especially those base mankind brings...
.....
...He trusts the child who gets this book
Will on the various notes just look
And feel that every pencil stroke
Helps on the game dear Walker wrote...
Although a botanist by profession, his main interest, judging by
his library appears to have been entomology and amongst the books
are some rare titles in that field many dating from the nineteenth
century, a golden age for the natural sciences. Many of the giants in
the field of Entomology are represented in the books and there are
good sets of Curtis, Donovan and Stephens with many exquisite, hand-
coloured illustrations. Geology was another of his interests, as well as
microscopy.
What little is known of George West is largely gleaned from a
publication from Hereford Museum published in 2007. West had
donated a large collection of mineralogical specimens to the Museum
in 1945. His connection with Hereford, however, appears to be
tenuous and the man remains something of an enigma.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
24% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
24% inc VAT*
