1793 The Literary Life of Thomas Pennant by Himself : Welsh Naturalist

The Literary Life of Thomas Pennant

By Himself

London; Sold by Benjamin and John White, and Robert Faulder, 1793. First Edition. Half-leather binding with marble boards, [8], 144 p. 25 cm. Frontispiece portrait and two other engraved plates (The Reverend John Lloyd Rector of Caerwis and Fountains Abbey).

CONDITION
A very good copy. The binding is good with cracking to the leather at the front hinge but board securely attached if a little shaken. Endpapers good. Bookplate to inside front board. All contents present and pages good throughout. Tad of light spotting to the last two pages. Overall a good copy.

Thomas Pennant (27 June 1726 – 16 December 1798) was a Welsh naturalist, traveller, writer and antiquarian. He was born and lived his whole life at his family estate, Downing Hall, near Whitford, Flintshire, in Wales.

As a naturalist he had a great curiosity, observing the geography, geology, plants, animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish around him and recording what he saw and heard about. He wrote acclaimed books including British Zoology, the History of Quadrupeds, Arctic Zoology and Indian Zoology although he never travelled further afield than continental Europe. He knew and maintained correspondence with many of the scientific figures of his day. His books influenced the writings of Samuel Johnson. As an antiquarian, he amassed a considerable collection of art and other works, largely selected for their scientific interest. Many of these works are now housed at the National Library of Wales.

(Loc : Desk Top shelf, left)