History Taxidermy Art Science Bad by Morris (1 results)

ALL UK PARCELS SENT TRACKED! ALL OVERSEAS PARCELS SENT AIRMAIL, TRACKED! (S/hand, Hardcover, 2010). 2010 1st edition. De luxe issue. Large 4to (220 x 286mm). Ppvi,396. Colour photographs, colour & b&w illustrations, pictorial end-papers, bibliography. Quarter-bound in dark brown leather over green/brown marbled boards, raised bands, all edges gilt, spine titled in gilt. A fine copy. Number 18 of only 40 signed and numbered copies. Handsomely bound in quarter leather over marbled boards. "Taxidermy is a part of our social and natural history. The development, over 300 years, of mammal and bird taxidermy, including elephants and even humans, are reviewed, along with attempts to locate the oldest existing stuffed animals. The controversy regarding the use of arsenic as a preservative is assessed, with some surprises. Several chapters describe in detail how taxidermy businesses operated in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their different styles of products, trade labels (including some poems from them!) and their major groups of customers, ranging from huntsmen to bird collectors, are described, with many quirky stories, historical snippets and wry comment. Although the main focus is principally on British taxidermists, the general picture also applies to contemporary taxidermists in Europe and the USA. A whole chapter is devoted to the special features of American taxidermy and how different it is from that of Europe. Frequent reference is also made to American taxidermists in other chapters and the Foreword is by Larry Blomquist, publisher of a major American taxidermy magazine. A review of taxidermy books published in Europe and the USA makes some revelations about who thought of what first. A final chapter on taxidermy today discusses and dissects the unsubstantiated complaints and ignorant criticisms made of this subject." This is the de luxe edition, limited to 40 signed & numbered copies. Quarter brown leather over marbled boards, all edges gilt. .