The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition

The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition

£55.00
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The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
  • The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition
The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition

The Moths of the British Isles (Series I & Series II), Richard South — New Edition

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£55.00

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Publication: London, Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1939

Formatting: 2 vols., 16mo, pp. [vi], 360; [vi], 399.

Condition Report: Near Fine. This two-volume set presents remarkably well, exhibiting a structural tightness and visual brightness that easily justifies a high grade. The publisher's coarse-grain blue cloth boards remain vivid and unrubbed, with the intricate gilt moth motifs and spine lettering completely unoxidised and gleaming. The bindings are tight, square, and completely free of lean, while the mottled blue textblock edges retain their original depth of colour without fading or spotting. Internally, the pages are crisp, bright, and free of the foxing that commonly plagues this series, leaving the colour plates pristine. The original printed paper dust jackets are present, intact, and exceptionally well-preserved; they show only the mildest age-toning to the spine panels and the faintest hints of rubbing at the extreme edges. A remarkably fresh, collector-quality set.

Catalogue Note: This set represents the "New Edition" of Richard South's authoritative entomological guide, which was comprehensively edited and revised by H. M. Edelsten to reflect updated nomenclature and species distribution. Issued as a dual-volume set within the highly successful 'Wayside and Woodland' series, it encompasses the families Sphingidae through Hepialidae.

The work is lavishly illustrated, boasting over 1,500 accurately coloured figures across numerous plates that beautifully render the native species, alongside detailed black-and-white drawings of eggs, caterpillars, chrysalides, and food plants.

While later post-war reprints of South’s work are relatively abundant, encountering a pre-war printing that retains both its original, intact dust jackets and its publisher's gilt-stamped cloth in such a pristine, vibrant state of preservation is distinctly uncommon on the open market.

First published in the early twentieth century, Richard South's The Moths of the British Isles quickly established itself as the definitive field guide and reference work for amateur and professional entomologists alike. Spanning two comprehensive volumes, this meticulous work details the structure, habits, distribution, and nomenclature of hundreds of native moth species. With its accessible yet scientifically rigorous text and its staggering array of life-like colour plates, South's masterpiece remains a charming and essential cornerstone of British natural history literature, offering a timeless window into the rich biodiversity of the countryside.

Book Condition: Near Fine

Book Authors: Richard South

Book Publisher: Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Natural History

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1939

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: The Wayside and Woodland Series

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.
Condition Description
New A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.

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