Rare, antiquarian, used & out-of-print books on Entomology, insects, spiders & other creepy and crawlies, plus bee-keping, at Horizon Books.
AVIDOV, Zvi and Isaac Harpaz; Plant Pests of Israel. Jerusalem, Israel Universities Press, [1969], First edition in English, translated from Hebrew, the first Israel edition was 1961, large 8vo [24.5 x 17 cm]; x, 549 pp, 180 illustrations from photos and drwgs, maps, bibliog of 340 references, index, original cloth, spine title lettering, dj taped to cover, library withdrawal stamp on endpaper, interior is clean and fine, in very good cover and dj.
The work describes some 630 species of insects, mites and molluscs of economic importance, pests of cultivated or forest plants, or parasites and predators of these injurious organisms, with sections on each. A section lists host plants, each with their pests. This is a revised and up-dated version of the original Hebrew text and is the only comprehensive work covering all crops of the Eastern Mediterranean area.
US$21. bookID # 11881
BELT, Thomas; The Naturalist in Nicaragua: A Narrative of a Residence at the Gold Mines of Chontales, Journeys in the Savannahs and Forests, with Observations on Animals and Plants in Reference to the Theory of Evolution of Living Forms. London, John Murray, 1874, First edition, 8vo [19.5 x 13.5 cm]; xvi, 403 pp, frontis, plates, other illus, foldout partly colored map, index, original blue cloth with gilt cover decoration, spine gilt title lettering & decorations, re-backed preserving original cloth, spine a little darkened, lightly rubbed at edges, interior is clean and fine in very good cover.
Darwin's Century, Jeremy Norman Collection lot 20: "A classic work on the natural history of Nicaragua by the British geologist who superintended the Chontales Gold Mining Company from 1868 to 1872. Belt was especially influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection and his book contains a great deal of evidence to support it." British Museum Natural History Catalogue p. 131. Welch p. 177. Palau 26647. Cundall 949. Casey Wood 230: "The intrinsic merits of the book, of which Darwin spoke so highly, resulted in a second edition (in 1888), after the death of the author in 1878." "It appears to me to be the best of all natural history journals which have ever been published." (Charles Darwin). Besides descriptions of nature in the area, the author describes the people, their customs, culture, society, ancient artifacts, etc.
US$200. bookID # 10515
CURLE, Richard; The Ray Society; A Bibliographical History. London, Bernard Quaritch Ltd, 1954, First edition, 12mo [22 x 14.5 cm]; vi, 101 pp, photo frontispiece, original cloth, gilt title lettering on spine and cover, clean and unmarked, fine copy, includes a four page 'Report of the Council of the Ray society for 1958-59', inserted loose.
The author gives a detailed history of the Ray Society, one of the most important natural history organizations of the time, together with an annotated bibliography of the society with full details including collations, plate lists, number printed, etc, arranged by subject. At the end is a listing of every publication of the society by year published beginning in 1844.
US$6. bookID # 13883
CURTIS, John; Farm Insects; being the Natural History and Economy of the Insects Injurious to the Field Crops of Great Britain and Ireland, and also those which Infest Barns and Granaries with Suggestions for their Destruction. Glasgow, Edinburgh, London, Blackie & Son, 1860, First Edition, royal 8vo [26.5 x 19.5 cm]; xiv, [15]-528. [8, ads] pp, 16 hand-colored steel-engraved plates, each showing several figures, including frontis with tissue guard, 69 other wood-engraved illustrations, index, original red blind-stamped cloth with gilt decorations & gilt title lettering in border on spine with gilt vignettes of insects, edges rubbed, spine head bit worn with small chip, title & few other leaves lightly foxed, endpaper signed, clean, very good.
Freeman 879. The entomologist author provides an important contribution to agriculture with descriptions of the natural history and economy of insects affecting field crops, pastures and vegetables, and the basis for their control. There were several later printings of this popular work.
US$125. bookID # 8952
FORD, Laetitia [ex Laetitia Jermyn]; The Butterfly Collector's Vade Mecum; with a Synoptical Table of British Butterflies. London, Longman and Co., 1836, third edition, 12mo [17.5 x 11 cm]; viii, 140 pp, 5 engraved plates of which 2 are hand-colored including frontis, glossary, original cloth, decorated in blind, head of spine chipped, front joint partly split, light foxing on few leaves but a nice copy.
Freeman 1232. British Museum Natural History Library Catalogue 932 (which did not have the first edition). Not in Nissen. The first edition was published in 1824 in only 68 pages, with the third edition greatly enlarged and brought up-to-date. The author was helped by the famous entomologist, William Kirby.
US$140. bookID # 6295
FRENCH, G. H.; The Butterflies of the Eastern United States, for the use of classes in zoology and private students. Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott Company, 1886, First edition, 8vo [19 x 14 cm]; 402, [vi, ads] pp, 93 illus, map, glossary, index, original cloth, gilt butterfly vignette and gilt lettering on spine, very lightly rubbed at edges, a few pages with pencil annotations, signature of Mary Reeve-Spear Ross on endpaper, a fine and clean copy.
The first butterfly manual of the United States. British Museum Natural History Catalogue page 617.
US$22. bookID # 10417
HINGSTON, Major R. W. G.; A Naturalist in the Guiana Forest. New York, Longmans, Green & Co, 1932, First American Edition, 8vo [22.5 x 14 cm]; xiii, [ii], 384 pp, 16 plates including frontis from photos, map, 150 illustrations from the author's drawings, appendix on new species of spiders, original cloth, gilt spine title lettering, spine faded but lettering clear, name of Arthur J. Spoor on endpaper, minor foxing on a few margins, front panel of dust jacket glued to front endpaper, tipped in description on endpaper, near fine, clean.
An important book on scientific exploration in these South American jungles by the distinguished naturalist and leader of the Oxford University Expedition to British Guiana. Based on long hours of watching in observation posts slung in the tree tops, enabled the author to observe a teeming and fantastic natural world. With much on insects, spiders and spider webs. Nicely illustrated including many sketches of spider webs by the author.
US$60. bookID # 12638
HINGSTON, R. W. G.; A Naturalist in Hindustan. London, H. F. & G. Witherby, 1923, First edition, 8vo [23 x 15 cm]; 292 pp, frontis with tissue guard, illustrations, plates from photos and drawings, index, original cloth, gilt spine title lettering, fine copy, clean and bright, with the original invoice inserted loosely.
Much on insect life, architectural and dome-building spiders, ants, dung-burying beetles, monsoons, evolution of instinct, etc, by this eminent naturalist. Wood 386.
US$40. bookID # 13135
HINGSTON, R.W.G.; A Naturalist in Hindustan. London, H. F. & G. Witherby, 1923, First Edition, 8vo [23 x 15 cm]; 292 pp, frontis, illus, plates from photos and drawings, index, original cloth, shelf wear, spine label removed, front blank endpaper with piece cut out, else very clean, partly unopened, good copy.
Much on insect life, spiders, ants, dung-burying beetles, monsoons, evolution of instinct, etc, by this eminent naturalist. Wood 386.
US$16. bookID # 1201
HUMPHREYS, H. Noel; The Butterfly Vivarium; or Insect Home, being an account of a new Method of Observing the Curious Metamorphoses of Some of the Most Beautiful of Native Insects, also a Popular Description of the Habits & Instincts of Many Insects. . .With Suggestions for. London, William Lay, 1858, First edition, 12mo [19 x 13.5 cm]; xii, 288, [iii, ads including one for author's earlier book] pp, 8 fine hand colored engraved plates including frontis, engraved headpieces for each chapter, with the half title page, original cloth, gilt title lettering on spine and on cover in decorative gilt border, all edges gilted, cover rubbed and expertly re-set in binding, interior clean and near fine in very good cover, sound and tight binding.
Freeman 1836. An attractively produced book by author of other high-class natural history books, one being an early work on aquariums done at the beginning of the aquarium craze in Victorian England. The work translates the aquarium, a habitat for fish and other marine animals, to one of insects where the enthusiastic nature lover could collect various insects and watch them grow and reproduce in the comfort of their own home. The plates, including many of butterflies, beetles, etc, are beautifully done, the frontis being one of the vivarium itself, an ornate sort of aquarium with plants, water, butterflies, etc that could have been found in a typical parlor of the time.
US$390. bookID # 12275
HUMPHREYS, H. Noel; The Butterfly Vivarium; or Insect Home, being an account of a new Method of Observing the Curious Metamorphoses of Some of the Most Beautiful of Native Insects, also a Popular Description of the Habits & Instincts of Many Insects. . .With Suggestions for. London, William Lay, 1858, First edition, 12mo [19 x 13.5 cm]; xii, 288, [iii, ads including one for author's earlier book] pp, 8 fine hand colored engraved plates including frontis, engraved headpieces for each chapter, with the half title page, endpaper ads, original cloth, gilt title lettering on spine and on cover in decorative gilt border, all edges gilted, cover rubbed, rebacked preserving original spine & endpapers, interior clean and near fine in very good cover, solid and tight binding.
Freeman 1836. An attractively produced book by author of other high-class natural history books, one being an early work on aquariums done at the beginning of the aquarium craze in Victorian England. The work translates the aquarium, a habitat for fish and other marine animals, to one of insects where the enthusiastic nature lover could collect various insects and watch them grow and reproduce in the comfort of their own home. The plates, including many of butterflies, beetles, etc, are beautifully done, the frontis being one of the vivarium itself, an ornate Victorian aquarium with plants, water, butterflies, etc, that could have been found in a typical parlor of the time.
US$380. bookID # 13068
SLINGERLAND, Mark Vernon; Cyrus Richard Crosby; Manual of Fruit Insects. New York, The Macmillan Company, 1914, First Edition, thick 8vo [19.5 x 13.5 cm]; xvi, 503, [8, ads], 396 illustrations from photos & drwgs, index, original pictorial blue cloth, attractively decorated in green and orange with gilt title lettering on front cover and spine, edges rubbed lightly, else a near fine copy, interior clean and sound.
Slingerland was an entomologist at Cornell University and based this work on his 20 years of research on insect problems encountered by the fruit growers of New York state. After his death, Crosby completed the work. Covers insects of apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry, quince, raspberry, blackberry, dewberry, currant, gooseberry, strawberry, grapes, cranberry, and the insecticides used to control them, very well-illustrated.
US$9. bookID # 7744
TRIMBLE, Isaac P.; A Treatise on the Insect Enemies of Fruit and Fruit Trees; With Numerous Illustrations Drawn From Nature, By Hochstein, Under the Immediate Supervision of the Author. New York, William Wood & Company, 1865, First edition, 4to [29.5 x 23.5 cm]; xviii, [19] - 139 pp, 11 lithographed plates including fine hand colored frontis of fruit, 2 tinted plates, tissue guards, original brown cloth, gilt cover title lettering, spine ends chipped, worn, joint cracked, internal hinge repaired, endpaper inscription, very light foxing on few leaves, interior very good.
Bennett 106. Hedrick 529. The entomologist author provides a detailed description with graphic and interesting plates.
US$110. bookID # 12684
TUTT, J. W.; British Moths. London, George Routledge and Sons, 1902, , 12mo [19 x 13 cm]; xii, 368, [iv, ads] pp, 12 color lithographed (chromolithograph) plates including frontis, 61 test figures, index to plates, original two-part cloth, gilt title lettering on spine, lightly rubbed at edges, one leaf with marginal tear, hinges cracked but holding, a very good copy.
Freeman 3788. Good survey with detailed plates, each with several illustrations.
US$16. bookID # 5504
URQUHART, F. A.; The Monarch Butterfly. Toronto, University of Toronto Press, [1960], First Edition, 8vo [24 x 16 cm]; xxiv, 361 pp, 12 color plates, including color map, 79 illustrations in text, including maps, bibliog, index, blue green cloth, spine with gilt rules and lettering, dj (worn at edges, small chip), clean, near fine in good dj.
The author was a pioneer in researching the Monarch, including its biology, but also its migration patterns. At the time he started his research, it was not known to where the Monarch migrated south in the winter, but his research was pioneering in helping to understand the migrations, and its winter quarters. There are maps of the breeding areas but the specific breeding areas of Mexico were discovered more recently. This book summarizes his 34 years of research.
US$90. bookID # 5903
WEEKS, Andrew Gray; Illustrations of Diurnal Lepidoptera. Boston, The University Press, 1905, First edition, 8vo [23 x 15.5 cm]; xii, 117 pp, engraved frontis portrait, 45 fine color lithographed (chromolithographs) plates, other illustrations from photos, index, contemporary half leather, scuffed, gilt lettering on spine, raised bands, marbled boards and edges, binding signed by U. Holzer, Boston, internally clean, bright and fine, in very good cover, presentation copy signed by the author, Jan. 1907.
The author described and illustrated butterflies he believed were new to science. The attractive colored plates by B. Meisel, illustrate from one to four butterflies. The author describes the butterfly collecting trip by William Gerhard where he travelled in Bolivia over a period of more than a year in 1898 and 1899, based on Gerhard's letters and photos. Nissen 4356. British Museum Natural History Catalogue 2283. Not in Bennett.
US$70. bookID # 6391
WHYMPER, Edward; Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator. New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1892, First American edition, 8vo [23.5 x 17 cm]; xxvi, 456, 20 plates, 118 illus, 4 folding maps including and one in rear pocket (short splits at folds), tables, appendices, index, original pictorial cloth, gilt title lettering on spine and cover top edge gilted, cover a little lightly spotted at edge, 5 margins lightly stained, very good sound and solid copy.
Welch 111. Neate W66: 'This book was the first of the few great classics of South American mountaineering literature, equaled only by books like De Agostini's Andes Patagonicos. It remains essential reading for anyone visiting Ecuador'. Whymper was the first to ascend the Matterhorn and his Scrambles amongst the Alps is the most famous mountaineering book. Whymper's book on the Andes is less well-known but more important scientifically. Very well-illustrated and includes significant information on the natural history and geology of the area. One of the few nineteenth century books on Ecuador, describing the people, nature, scenery, cities, etc. Goodman 595: 'A solid, lengthy account of his experiences in climbing the peaks, including Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, with extensive botanical information.' He climbed 6 peaks over 15,000 feet. The maps include Quito plan, province of Quito, map of Ecuador, etc.
US$150. bookID # 12316
WORTH, C. Brooke; Mosquito Safari; a Naturalist in Southern Africa. New York, Simon and Schuster, 1971, First Edition, vo [21.5 x 14 cm]; 316 pp, illustrations from photos, map, index, original cloth, dj (light wear at spine end, small chip, not price clipped), else near fine in vg dj.
The author, seeking mosquitoes that transmit viruses, managed to not only collect many species but also observe the local conditions, wildlife and birds on the way to writing this interesting narrative.
US$5. bookID # 4239
WORTH, C. Brooke; Mosquito Safari; a Naturalist in Southern Africa. New York, Simon and Schuster, 1971, First Edition, 8vo [21.5 x 14 cm]; 316 pp, illustrations from photos, map, index, original cloth, dj (price clipped), very light signs of use, else near fine, clean and unmarked.
The author, seeking mosquitoes that transmit viruses, managed to not only collect many species but also observe the local conditions, wildlife and birds on the way to writing this interesting narrative.
US$7. bookID # 13565
WRIGHT, S. T., appendix by W. D. Drury; Fruit Culture for Amateurs; an Illustrated Practical Handbook on the Growing of Fruits in the Open and Under Glass; with an appendix on Insect and Other Pests Injurious to Fruit Trees, their life histories & the means used to check their increase. London, L. Upcott Gill, 1898, Second edition, 12mo [19 x 13 cm]; viii, 244, [xvi, ads including illustrations] pp, plates including two foldout, frontis, many other illustrations, original ads on front endpapers, original pictorial cloth, gilt title lettering on spine and cover, old name on endpaper, edge slightly rubbed, else near fine, clean.
Very well-illustrated, this edition with the extensive appendix on insect and other pests.
US$18. bookID # 13170
YOUNG, Allen M.; Sarapiqui Chronicle; A Naturalist in Costa Rica. Washington and London, Smithsonian Institution Press, [1991], First Edition, 8vo [23 x 16 cm]; xvi, [ii], 361 pp, illustrations from photos, map, index, original cloth, gilt lettering on spine, dj, small remainder mark on lower edge, name on endpaper, else fine.
The author, an entomologist with the Milwaukee Public Museum, describes the cloud forests of northeastern Costa Rica based on his 25 years of travel and study of this region's ecologies. Although there is some emphasis on insect life and its relation to other species and plants, the author provides an interesting and well written account of his experiences with the people and the jungle.
US$10. bookID # 11641
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