William Frederic[k] Martyn - A new dictionary of natural history - 1784-1786

The full title is: A new dictionary of natural history; or compleat universal display of animated nature. With accurate representations of the most curious and beautiful animals, elegantly coloured.. This is the magnum opus of William Frederic[k] Martyn (1758-1837), and "A rare work devoted to ... natural history, more particularly based on the collections in the Leverian Museum established by Sir Ashton Lever in Leicester Square, London, in 1774" (Wood). The fine, colourful illustrations are mainly of birds, and fish. Also present are mammals, shells,snakes, turtles, etc. A complete copy should have one hundred plates of which this copy holds 68. Martyn was the founder of the New Geographical Magazine and had a keen interest in natural history. Plate numbering is complicated, the first two lack numbers, the others are irregularly placed. There is no page numbering in this work. Boards much worn, the front board near-detached; the overal state of the binding is poor. Lacking the first title, two pp. preface, first four preliminary text leaves, the last text leaf and the index leaf. The subsequent leaves, last leaves present, and a few leaves in between with folds, and or chips, mostly in margins, a few affecting the text. First plate folded, and with tears and marginal chips, affecting the caption. One plate with an illustration clipped. Otherwise a good copy, with strong and accurate colouring, and wide margins, and, in all 68 beautifully hand-coloured plates, of which 66 in very good condition.

References: Cat. BM(NH) Supplement, p. 806; Nissen ZBI 2729; Wood, p. 453.