First edition, first impression. xii, 176, [4]pp, 18 black and white plates and 32 drawings and maps. In deep green cloth-covered boards with gilt lettering on spine. 8vo. Cloth very slightly rubbed at extreme corners and spine tips, text block edges dust-darkened, else neat, crisp and clean throughout. In its original plain green sugar paper dust wrapper with black lettering front and spine, a little rubbed and faded at extreme edges, lightly sunned over spine. Dust wrapper will be fitted with an archival-quality Mylar wrapper, without the use of tape or adhesives, before dispatch.
The is a variant dust wrapper (see Marren, P., The New Naturalists, 1995, p. 293). Marren comments 'I once saw a copy in a plain green, sugar-paper jacket. Did they run out of Ellis jackets and wrap the last few in plain ones?". Either way, in this, probably second state wrapper, this is likely one of the rarest of all editions in the New Naturalist series.
This is a New Naturalist Monograph, No. 15. Books in the main New Naturalist series were originally planned to tackle broad subjects such as Wild Flowers, or Nationasl Parks. A parallel sub-series of monographs (originally called Special Volumes) was published between 1948 and 1971, regarding single or related groups of species. They are shorter, and produced in a smaller format to the main series. There were 22 Monographs/Special Volumes.
