Undated. [1913]. xvi, 144, [8]pp, with eight coloured plates and numerous illustrations from photographs by the author, printed on art paper. Green cloth-covered boards with black lettering and illustration. 16mo. Cloth is worn, a little blown, and faded, gently rubbed and rounded at corners and ends of a sunned and ridged spine, with a few minor marks. Front free endpaper absent and colour plate frontispiece detached but present and undamaged. Some toning on endpapers and a little faint and occasional spotting on first and last few leaves. Previous owner's name inked on front paste down, with number, and pencil annotations on half title else internally neat and clean, A little loose.
Edward Step (1855-1931) was both a naturalist and a talented botanical illustrator. He wrote and illustrated numerous popular and specialist books on nature, zoology, botany and mycology between the 1890s and, postumously, 1941. Many of these are now highly regarded and affectionately recalled, for his attention to detail and the accurarcy and care of his illustrations which are valued by botanists and nature lovers alike.
