Zoology and Botany of New Holland with Hand-Coloured Plates

Shaw, George. Zoology of New Holland. Vol. 1 [all published]. London, [1793]-94. [ With] Smith, James. A specimen of the botany of New Holland. Vol. 1 [all published]. London, [1793-95]. Two volumes in one, quarto, with 12 + 16 hand-coloured plates, contemporary half green morocco. A few plates browned, some offsetting on to text, first three leaves neatly extended at the gutter, but fine, large copies in an attractive period binding. Imprints of plates 1 and 4 of the Zoology erased as issued. The first books devoted exclusively to Australian natural history. Publication began as a combined work under the title Zoology and botany of New Holland and the isles adjacent, issued in two parts with 8 plates in 1793, but the joint venture was discontinued and the subsquent parts were issued independently. This is an especially desirable pairing of the two works, with the rare original combined title as well as both separate titles and half-titles. The beautiful plates, including five of birds, were drawn by James Sowerby, mostly from specimens sent back from New South Wales by Surgeon John White, a number of the animals and plants being depicted and named here for the first time. The Willcox copy, bought by Martin Copley at Sotheby's, Melbourne, in 2000, for $91,500.