The Works in Natural History, of the Late Rev. Gilbert White, A.M. Comprising the Natural History of Selborne; The Naturalist’s Calendar; and Miscellaneous Observations, Extracted from his Papers. To which are added, A Calendar and Observations by W. Marwick, Esq. F.L.S. In Two Volumes (bound together here), Printed for J. White, London, 1802, frontispiece, one folding plate [volume I] one folding frontis in volume two (hand colored), one hand colored plate, 392 pp, 300 pp, later half leather, 8.5 x 5.75”, 8vo. 

In good condition. Later 19th century half leather binding exhibits light wear with minor abrasions. Tips slightly scuffed. Minor toning to marbled wrappers. Joints lightly abraded with minor scuffing to ends. Nicely bound overall. End papers “fresh” and free of ownership. Typical age-toning throughout with minor instances of scattered foxing. Some offsetting from plates, all folding plates in working order. Colored pigments remain bright and crisp. Folding frontis in volume II folded irregularly, cutting off the tip of the plate. Binding tight and intact. Free of known marginalia. Please see photos. 

First collection edition. Gilbert White (1720-1793) is widely regarded as the father of ecology. He was a pioneering naturalist and forerunner of all modern natural historians. This book is one of the most published and popular books in the English language, having never been out of print since its first published in 1789. Charles Darwin claims that he stood on the shoulders of White, and came on a pilgrimage to Selborne as a young man in June 1857. Samuel Taylor Coleridge is just one of the many great English writers and naturalists to have been influence by White. Coleridge called this a “sweet delightful book”. 

COLN1802FJKJ-723