Plates Illustrative of Natural History

from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge

Artists unknown. Thirty Plates Illustrative of Natural History… London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1845-47. 10 x 11 3/4 (including text). Wood engravings with original hand color. Very good condition.

From an English series of fauna prints apparently aimed at an adolescent, middle class, Christian audience. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge was founded in 1698 as an arm of the Church of England. The Society produced not only theological books but also works on popular science, travel, biography, and fiction. These prints were available in at least four parts bound (each set had thirty plates) and were also sold individually, as each bears its price in pence, for "coloured" or "plain" prints. The animals are portrayed unthreateningly, even anthropomorphically. Below each image is text about the animal, presented with a mildly religious bent. The Society also produced an associated publication called Thirty Plates Illustrative of Natural Phenomena… which depicted various natural phenomena, including icebergs, waterspouts, and glaciers. The result is a series of delightful and attractive images.

1. "The Long Eared Bat" $175
2. "The Rhinoceros" $275
3. "The Striped Hyæna" $125
8. "The Hedge-Hog" $165
9. "The Beaver" $225
10. "The Squirrel" $150
11. "The Llama" $165
12. "The Red Deer" $175
16. "The Ass" $185
17. "The Hippopotamus" $250
18. "The Harpy Eagle" $150
20. "The Peacock" [Illustrated at left] $175
21. "The Cassowary" $125
22. "The Emeu" $150
23. "The White Stork" $165
24. "The Woodcock" $150
25. "The Toad" $195
26. "The Crocodile" $225
27. "The Common Snake" $125
28. "The Salmon" $150
29. "The Sturgeon" $125
30. "The Mackerel" $125
32. "The Common Seal" $165
33. "The Shepherd's Dog" $225
34. "The Newfoundland Dog" $225
37. "The Cat" $250
38. "The Mole" $125
39. "The Porcupine" $195
40. "The Mouse" $165
44. "The Rein-Deer" $185
45. "The Nyl Ghau" $135
46. "The Sheep" $150
47. "The Cow" $175
50. "The Kite" $125
51. "The Starling" $125
52. "The Ostrich" $185
53. "The Common Heron" $175
54. "The Swan" [Illustrated at right] $225
55. "The Turtle" $225
57. "The Common Viper" $150
58. "The Cod fish" (with smudge in margin) $125
59. "The Flying Fish" $150
60. "The Lobster" $195
61. "The Pike" $125
72. "The Lizard" $150
79. "The Eel" $125
91. "The Partridge" $125
94. "The Nightingale" $125
96. "The Rattle-Snake" $150
98. "The Carp" $125
100. "The Haddock" $125
102. "The Sky-Lark" $125
109. "The Syrian Goat" $125
111. "The Common Rat" $125
116. "The Common Goose" $125
117. "The Jerboa" $125
120. "The Common Weasel" $125
"The Indian Ox" (trimmed) $125

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