£110
The Author's copy
The Practical Principles of Photo-Micrography, George West, printed
for the author by Campbell, Sons & co. Dundee. Quarto. The stiff,
paper covers have come away from the text block consequently
several of the signatures of the block are separated, though still
attached.
Six letters are included here to West from his namesake George
Stephen West [1876-1919] Professor of Botany at the University of
Birmingham University and author of several books including 'A
Treatise on the British Freshwater Algae' (Cambridge University Press
1904)
The letters are variously dated between 1907 and 1916 and are usually
on his work and publications, thanking West for specimens, discussing
possible collaborations and publications of other authors, etc. At one
point he writes 'Your remarks concerning Dundee do not encourage
me to visit the town.' Despite this, he provisionally accepts an
invitation to stay with his correspondent in the city. A constant theme
is the workload he is under to get work to the publisher. In September
1915 he refers to a prolonged illness, the influenza, the legacy of
which will sadly lead to his death from double pneumonia just a few
years later. In the final letter of May 1916, he expresses his anxiety
that he might be called up for military service.
Also included are several old examination papers in Botany for the
M.A. degree at the University of St Andrews, which West has used to
make notes on verso. An offprint from the Journal of Micrography,
being an article by West.
(1)
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:
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