GATTY, Mrs. Alfred (1871), Waifs and Strays of Natural History, ASSOCIATION COPY

Description: GATTY, Mrs. Alfred (1871), Waifs and Strays of Natural History, ASSOCIATION COPY Characteristics: ASSOCIATION COPY – GATTY, Mrs. Alfred (1871), Waifs and Strays of Natural History. Bell and Daldy, London, 165 pp., frontispiece of a coral, 3 in-text figures – An eclectic collection of short stories about natural wonders found in Great Britain and abroad, this book serves as both a guide to recognizing various animal and plant species and a set of anecdotes on natural history activities. It offers a window into Mrs. Gatty’s personal observations of the natural world and her interactions with collectors and scientists. We learn of her network of travelers in far corners of the British Empire (e.g., p. 9) and her interactions with Dr. Harvey. For instance, she recalls: “We remember to have often made Dr. Harvey smile, by asking him to help a lame dog over a stile, when we wanted him to make a scientific statement intelligible to our unlearned ears” (p. 88). Some stories are instructive in their detailed advice on how to collect and observe marine specimens, reflecting Gatty’s own expertise and her commitment to making natural history accessible to the broader public. Description: Original, faded red cloth, worn at the spine ends, cloth splitting at the front joint, some minor foxing on first and last pages, colored frontispiece, one penned correction p. 153. Association copy, inscribed on title page: “To my dear Madge, hoping her children may be interested in it some day. From her affectionate Mother, Margaret Gatty. Nov. 1870”, Mabel Florence Harriet Smith bookplate, and glued folded 1912 letter by Francis Patrick Smith, Mabel’s father-in-law, saying that she could have the book, and that Horatia (to whom the book is dedicated) would send it along as soon as she could find it. Provenance: Margaret Gatty · Margaret (Madge) Smith (Gatty’s daughter) married to Francis Patrick Smith (book later with Horatia according to letter) · Lady Mabel Smith, married to one of Margaret Gatty’s grandsons Margaret Gatty (1809-1873) was an influential Victorian writer, marine biologist, and natural historian. She is best known for her literary contributions, particularly in children’s literature, but her legacy holds especially a significant place in the collecting and study of marine algae (seaweeds). She gained fame for her children’s stories, which combined entertainment with moral and educational themes, with ’Parables from Nature’ being highly popular in the 19th century. She was a highly skilled printmaker in etching, with which she illustrated some of her own writings. About us: We collect historic collectibles previously owned by famous collectors and/or institutions, and which represent milestones in the history of collecting. We consider all domains of collecting, from naturalia (minerals, meteorites, fossils, shells, etc.) to artificialia (coins, stamps, sport memorabilia, vintage toys, etc.). We consider objects with impressive pedigrees as well as rare collection catalogues and other unique documents. We have written articles on the history of collecting in various magazines and journals, including Meteorite, Colligo and Archives of Natural History. We make some of our specimens and documents available to other collectors from time to time.

Price: 495 USD

Location: Uster 1

End Time: 2025-02-02T09:42:48.000Z

Shipping Cost: 25 USD