Being Observations Principally on the Animal and Vegetable Productions of New South Wales, New Zealand, and some of the Austral Islands.
First edition. 7 coloured and 1 tinted lithograph plates, numerous in-text woodcuts. 8vo. Original cloth, spine faded, signatures of previous owners on both front endpapers. xii, 456pp. London, John van Voorst, 1860.
This is generally regarded as one of the most outstanding work on Australian natural history of the mid-nineteenth century. Of particular importance is Bennett’s work on the platypus, which is described in a fifty page chapter and a beautiful plate. Most of the illustrations are by G.F. Angas, with additional plates by Thomas Baines and Joseph Wolf, three of the foremost artists of the period. Dr George Bennett (1804-1893) settled in Sydney in 1836 and was closely involved in both the Australian Museum and Acclimatization Society. He also acted as John Gould’s agent in Sydney. Ferguson, 6929; Wood, p231.
