Wanderings in South America, the North-West of the United States, and the Antilles, in the Years 1812, 1816, 1820 and 1824.
London: Printed for J. Mawman, 1825. First edition. Hardcover. A presentation binding of this work by the English explorer, naturalist and expert in taxidermy, Charles Waterton (1781-1865) with the frontispiece portrait of the strange creature he claimed to have witnessed, called "A Nondescript", part man and part animal. The work provided an early description of tropical plants and animals of South America from personal observations by Waterton.
Contained in this volume is Waterton's "Fourth Journey" which describes his travels up the Hudson River to Albany, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Quebec, Saratoga, Lake Champlain and Lake George. He remarks on "the openness and candour which is so remarkable in the American" (p246). Interesting comment on the Erie Canal, "it is to the genius and perseverance of DeWitt Clinton that the United States owe the most incalculable advantages of this inland navigation" ( p248). (The "Northwest" of the title refers to Syracuse and the Erie Canal.)
Page 307 to 326 is a separate treatise on preserving birds for cabinets of natural history.
Large 4to, engraved frontispiece, vii, [1] pp, 326 pp, all edges gilt. Full tan gilt calf presentation binding, with gilt decoration and gilt raised bands at spine, gilt inner dentelles. Slightly rubbed at spine and corners; frontispiece & title slightly foxed with a slight crease, the text otherwise bright and clean. Sabin 102094. OCLC: 367332985. Good + overall. Item #25964
Price: $250.00