David Spilman Fine Books

Johnson's Natural History : Comprehensive, Scientific, and Popular, Illustrating and Describing The Animal Kingdom, with its Wonders and Curiosities ... Showing the Habits, Structure, and Classification of Animals, with their Relation to Agriculture, Manufactures, Commerce, and The Arts; [In Two Volumes] [on title page- Beautifully Illustrated with 1,500 Lifelike Engravings]

Goodrich, S. G.

New York; Cleveland: A. J. Johnson, F. G. and A. C. Rowe, 1868. Good. First Edition, 2nd Printing. [10.5x7.5in] Vol. I - xv, [1], 680 pp., 16 engraved plates including two frontispieces, illustration of medallion and image of Goodrich, many in text illustrations, charts and tables, Vol. II- viii, 680 pp., 15 illustrated plates including frontispiece, many in text illustrations, charts and tables, index; Dark brown goat covers and spine, gilt lettering on covers and spine, ribbed designs on spine and rules on covers, all edges gilt, plain end papers, beveled edges to covers; Shelf wear to both volumes with rubbing of corners, edges and joints, corners worn through, spine faded with rubbing to top and bottom, Vol. I has 1.5 inch split to front top joint, front hinge crack and loose, but holding with cords, top of spine missing, Vol. II has 1.5 inch split to bottom front joint, front hinge cracked and loose with cords holding tighter. LD. Item #14479

Samuel Griswold Goodrich (1793-1860), was an American author, better known under the pseudonym of "Peter Parley". From 1816 to 1822 was a bookseller and publisher at Hartford, CT, and in 1826 moved to Boston, where he continued in the publishing business, and from 1828 to 1842 he published an illustrated annual, the Token, to which he was a frequent contributor both in prose and verse. Under the name of Peter Parley, he wrote a series of books for the young on geography, biography, history, science and miscellaneous tales.

By his writings and publications he amassed a large fortune. He was elected a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1836, and of the state Senate in 1837. He was appointed as consul at Paris, from 1851 to 1853 and remained in Paris to have several of his works translated into French until 1855.

After his return to America he published the Illustrated History of the Animal Kingdom, in 1859. This large two volume book was very popular and reprinted 13 times to 1889. This book is the second printing. This illustrated book is impressive with the very well done engraved plates and large in text illustrations throughout both volumes. Many of the plates and in text illustrations and many are noted illustration artists in the mid 1800's.

Price: $150.00