The Malay Archipelago : the land of the orang-utan and the bird of paradise : a narrative of travel with studies of man and nature

London: Macmillan [from 1869], 1902. Decorative Cloth. Early reprint of "one of the finest scientific travel books ever written" (DSB) and Wallace's magnum opus, chronicling his eight-year sojourn through the Malay Archipelago. 8vo (196 x 129mm): xvii,[3],515,[1]pp, with tissue-guarded frontispiece, title-page vignette, 10 unnumbered maps (2 folding), and 51 full- or partial-page engravings by Thomas Baines, Walter Hood Fitch, John Gerrard Keulemans, E. W. Robinson, Joseph Wolf, and T. W. Wood. Original publisher's green pebbled cloth, upper cover and spine stamped in gilt, black coated end papers. A gorgeous copy, sound binding (though slightly rolled), minor marks to covers, very occasional foxing, but an excellent example in original cloth of Wallace's most important work. Norman 2176 (for first edition). Garrison-Morton 7439. A nearly identical reprint of the 1890 tenth edition, including bibliographical references and index. Originally published, in two volumes, in 1869. The Malay Archipelago, dedicated to Charles Darwin (Wallace independently conceived the theory of evolution through natural selection), gives accounts of Wallace's scientific exploration of Malaysia, Singapore, the islands of Indonesia (the Dutch East Indies), and the island of New Guinea, detailing each island's physical and human geography, volcanoes, and flora and fauna. Sailing some 14,000 miles from island to island in native crafts, Wallace collected an astonishing 125,000 natural history specimens (of mollusks, mammals, and reptiles), and discovered more than 200 species of birds and 1000 insects. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed.