$14,640
Philadelphia: J. Dobson: 1836-1838. 3 vols. (a further vol. was issued in 1838, according to Bennett). 4to, rebound in modern navy cloth with gilt-lettered leather spine labels, endpapers renewed. 83 hand-colored lithographed plates by Lehman & Duval of reptiles. The scarce first edition of this celebrated study of American herpetology. Holbrook, a leading physician and herpetologist of his day, destroyed most copies of the first production of his magnum opus, leading these first printing lithographs to be exceedingly rare. The present copy is from the collection of noted herpetologist and physician, Dr. Sherman Minton, of Indianapolis. Dr. Minton was a pioneer in the study of venomous reptiles and toxicology, and, not unlike Holbrook, collected herpetological specimens to further his research abroad in countries such as Pakistan. The set was gifted to Dr. Minton by his wife, Madge Rutherford Minton, who had them rebound by the Senate library. The majority of plates with wide margins and exceptionally bright coloring, most with original tissue guards. Tears to title pages on vols. 2 and 3; intermittent foxing mainly to text pages.
Auctioneer:
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
Date:
2011-08-09