Animals from Rare Illustrated Books

London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1860. Attractive collection of coloured zoological plates prepared for British schoolchildren during the mid-nineteenth century, including two Australian species (an emu and a kangaroo). The plates were issued by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, the publishing arm of the Anglican mission that during the early decades of the nineteenth century diversified its… Read more about this item

Germany, 1851. First Edition. Two fine German broadsheets, advertising a travelling zoo. Among the many fascinating animals listed for exhibition, the Australian dingo makes a surprising inclusion. The 1840s and 1850s saw a distinct rise in the popularity of travelling menageries throughout the world; one thinks of the Beaumont-Waller exhibits held in Hyde Park in Sydney in 1847. A… Read more about this item

Paris: Noel aîné, 1827. A splendid collection of expressive coloured lithographs depicting the animals of the world. This attractive album includes the entire run of 41 consecutive separately-issued plates; at which point, despite the charm and quality of the scenes, the publisher seems to have closed the series, making this a rare collection, and all the more impressive given… Read more about this item

Paris: J. Hetzel, 1868. A large-format edition with dramatic illustrations by Edward Riou who collaborated with Jules Verne for six of his novels. This racing tale of adventure is set against the backdrop of Pacific exploration and discovery. Much of the action takes place in Australia, especially Victoria. There are adventures with the locals, bushrangers, and explorers (including a… Read more about this item

London: T. Nelson & Sons, 1937. A contribution based chiefly on a study of the Black-Headed Gull. "The Black-headed Gull owes its name to its hood. As the hood is brown, although it may seem black from a distance, the name is not happily chosen. It stresses, moreover, a feature that serves as identification mark in the breeding… Read more about this item

Denmark, 1880. Very good. Charming children's exercise book with engraved illustrated covers depicting a group of five kangaroos titled "Kaempekaenguru". This idyllic bushland scene, complete with a joey and its mother and two emus in the distance, comprises the entire rear cover of the booklet (a serene contrast to the front cover depicting a group of hyenas… Read more about this item

London: Joseph Cundall, 1844. First Edition. Berghem, Durer, Everdingen, Hondius, A. Karl du Jardin, Le Ducq, Paul Potter, Fraser Redgrave, Rembrandt, Stoop, Tempesta, Teniers, Vandervelde. First edition, uncommon. An attractive illustrated alphabet, with a charming image of a Kangaroo. Among the other plates are etchings after Rembrandt and Albrecht Durer. [Percy Muir, English Children's Books, p. 180.] Handsome… Read more about this item

Sydney: Jons Productions, 1945. First Edition. Jacqueline Reading. Scarce and charming Australian children's story about Peter the Penguin who protects the ice-floe. [Muir, 6254]. Oblong octavo, 28pp., 12 full-page colour plates and other black & white drawings; early gift inscription on inside cover, else a very good copy in cloth-backed pictorial boards.

Paris: Martial Ardant freres, 1851. French natural history primer named after the great 18th century French naturalist, George-Louis Leclerc of Burgundy, later Compte de Buffon, listing man as the first animal to be examined (deemed the most interesting). Covers quadrupeds (mammals), birds, fish, insects and reptiles. With two pages dedicated to the kangaroo. Small octavo, bound in the original… Read more about this item

Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1936. First Edition. Dorothy Wall. Stout Fellows" is delightful little-known work from the canon of Dorothy Wall (1894 - 1942), creator of the lovable koala, Blinky Bill. Dedicated to the most important people, Young Scamps & Co., this is a tale of bush fire and adventure set in Australia. {Muir, 7830]. Quarto, bound in original… Read more about this item

Sydney: Printed by John Sands, 1925. First Edition. A scarce ephemeral piece, both written and illustrated by Dorothy Wall of 'Blinky Bill' reknown, teaching the value of "Thrift". One of three variant printings of this delightful gift book for children - teaching them to save against a Rainy Day - and the first of two such collaborations between Wall… Read more about this item

New York: McLoughlin Bros, 1885. American imprint of an old favourite. American reissue of the Alphabet of Animals from series titled Aunt Louisa's London Toy Books published by Warne in London. However, the format of this American edition is a little smaller, with different lithographic printing of the original images, and reset letterpress. Large octavo, bound in the… Read more about this item

London: Frederick Warne and Co, 1885. A title from the series "Aunt Louisa's London Toy Books", this alphabet is entirely composed of exotic animals; for example, we read: "K is a kangaroo hopping along; L stands for Lions, loud-roaring and strong. M is for Monkey, most mischievous he, N is a Nylghau from India, you see". "Aunt… Read more about this item

Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Puffin Picture Books, Penguin Books, 1951. First Edition. Songbook of ten popular nursery rhymes illustrated by Hans Augusto Rey (1898 -1977). A German Jew who escaped the Nazis in 1940 on a home-made bicycle with his wife and collaborator, Margret Rey, Hans Rey is renowned for his best-selling children's book, "Curious George", the original manuscript… Read more about this item

New Haven: S. Babcock, 1839. A rare and early whaling chapbook describing the techniques and tools of the hunt. Concludes with tales of shipwreck amid fields and mountains of ice. Duodecimo, original printed wrappers, frontispiece and illustrated title-page, vignettes throughout, 24 pages; rudimentary colouring of title vignette and frontispiece, a fair copy.

Printed by Pepperday and Company: Sydney, 1933. Quaint book of Australian bushland poems, signed by the author and dated 1936. Large octavo, original boards within green dust-jacket, colour illustrations of Australian parrots throughout; some foxing and a little wear affecting the paper label, this is a very good copy.

Sydney: William Brooks and Company, 1905. WALKER, Edith G. With an appreciation by Frances E. Newton. Illustrated by Edith Walker, this rare work contains thirty two songs for children with Australian animal and bushland themes. First edition. Oblong quarto, original illustrated papered boards, illustrated in colour and sepia, loose in binding but still a very good copy.

Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1935. Story and decorations by Dorothy Wall. Endearing early edition of an Australian children's classic. Second edition. Quarto, full page black and white plates, additional line drawings throughout; original green lettered papered boards; small elegant 'Margaret Hilder' ownership stamp on front free endpaper, stationeer's stamp on lower margin of title page, half-title quite browned, a… Read more about this item

Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1921. Joyce Dennys. A collection of short nature tales that capture the spirit of the Australian bush. Home reviewed the new edition of Amy Mack's Bushland Stories in December 1921 and praised the 'entirely new illustrations in colour and black and white by Joyce Dennys... so admirably suited to their subjects, so beautiful in… Read more about this item

Denmark: Gyldendalske Boghandel Nordisk Forlag, 1927. First edition. Hansen, Ernst. Bold and striking Danish language early reader abecedarium, an animal illustrating each letter of the alphabet, with K for Kangaroo. Decorated by noted Danish woodblock artist Ernst Hansen with verses by Hans Hartvig Seedorff Pedersen. Quarto, 32pp, string tied in original colour illustrated wrappers; externally a little browned and… Read more about this item