Natural History

Chronicles the rise, decline, and ultimate revival of natural history as science. Focuses on the contributions of many including John Ray, John Muir, Charles Darwin and Rachel Carson.

University of California Press, Berkley, USA. Hardback with dust jacket. 346 pages. NEW

Describes how Joseph Hooker established a network of plant collectors around the British Empire who supplied him with observations and herbarium material. It details how Hooker was able to control the taxonomy of plants and build his own reputation and that of Kew. Contains much material of New Zealand interest, William Colenso was one of Hooker's closest correspondents for many years.

University oof Chicago Press, USA, 2008. Hardback, no dust jacket as issued. 429 pages. NEW

Hooker was the most eminent of Victorian botanical travellers visiting the Antarctic, Syria and the Lebanon, the Atlas Mountains, the Rockies and California and also Sikkim, collecting plants and studying flora whereever he went. Best known locally for his collection of plants from the sub antarctic Auckland Islands and Campbell Island and his monumental publication of 'Flora Novae-Zelandiae' 1852-55.

Antique Collectors Club with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2006. Hardback with dust jacket. 286 pages. NEW

Describes the evolution of the plant kingdom and the extraordinary ways in which plants have come to live and thrive in all habitats and are linked to animal and fungal partners.

Harper Collins Publishers Ltd., London, 2012. Hardback with dust jacket. 256 pages. NEW

A excellent exploration of the Victorian fern and fern collecting craze that was widespread in Britain, the Empire and America. This study encompasses garden history, social history, the decorative arts and the history of tourism. New Zealand, once known as 'Fernland' and itself a Victorian creation, features throughout the book. 

Frances Lincoln Ltd., London, 2012. Hardback with dust jacket. 256 pages. NEW

Little explored and virtually inaccessible, the Tsangpo Gorge in S.E. Tibet is the world's deepest gorge. Through it twists the Yarlong Tsangpo, Tibet's great river, emerging far below on the plains of India. This is the story of its exploration and an account of the rich plant and animal life found there. Plant hunter Frank Kingdon Ward first went there in 1926, this is a much expanded edition of his original account with completely new material added. Fantastic book.

Garden Art Press, Woodbridge, UK, 2008. Hardback with dust jacket. 335 pages. NEW

The astonishing floral diversity of the region is described in this most comprehensive volume containing 2,700 plant descriptions, each including habitat, distribution, altitude and flowering time. 2,200 photographs comprise the largest gallery of Chinese wild plants assembled to date. An essential guide for travellers to China and a superb addition to any garden library.

Royal Botanic Gardens, London, 2011. Hardback, no dust jacket as issued. 642 pages. NEW

The bible for foliage plant growers incorporating all recent production techniques and pest and disease issues. First published in 1998 this is the second revised edition.

Bell Publishing, Illinois, USA, 2006. Hardback, no dust jacket as issued. 356 pages. NEW

Describes the world of temperate forest trees in thorough detail with more than 600 species described and illustrated in 350 photographs and 200 artworks. Also includes structure and lifecycle of trees, trees and the weather and the use of trees in gardens and landscape design. First Published in 1973, this is the revised edition.

Michael Beazley Octopus Publishing, London, 2011. Hardback with dust jacket. 400 pages. NEW

Provides comprehensive botanical descriptions and horticultural comentary on over 800 tree species introduced to cultivation in recent decades, for which there is no comparable source of information. Commissioned by the International Dendrology Society this important reference work covers trees grown in the temporate regions, UK, Europe and N. America.

Kew Publishing Royal Botanic Gardens, London, 2009. Hardback with dust jacket. 976 pages. NEW

An inspirational collection of the Anthurinum used in floral art, simple techniques full of individuality and spirit. A source of inspiration for all involved in floral art.

Terra Publishing, Amsterdam, 2011. Hardback, no dust jacket as issued. 140 pages. NEW

The creation and expansion of the nineteenth century botanical gardens in the British Empire was a great stimulus to science and also to global trade depending on the distribution of plants of economic importance, such as rubber, quinine, sugar, tea and coffee. This book tells the story of ten Botanical Gardens; St Vincent, Jamaica, Singapore, Java, Mauritius, Ceylon, Calcutta, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. 

Bene Factum Publishing Ltd., London, 2010. Hardback with dust jacket. 224 pages. NEW

Describes the myriad ways that insects have enriched the human experience on Earth, a tour de force of the utalisation and cultural significance of insects in human history. Beautiful illustrations.

University of California Press, London, 2009. Hardback with dust jacket. 233 pages. NEW

Illustrations of Australian butterflies and moths held by the National Library of Australia. Included are some of the country's most loved artists who all demonstate a meticulous approach to the subject. Numerous beautiful illustrations.

National Library of Australia, Canberra, 2011. Softback. 106 pages. NEW

The Discovery, Art and Natural History of the Birds of Paradise. A survey of the paintings made by great natural history artists of birds so rare and beautiful that when their plumes first arrived in sixteenth century Europe it was believed that the birds lived high in the sky, feeding on dew, in paradise. A very beautiful book.

Harper Collins Publishers Ltd., London, 2012. Hardback, no dust jacket as published. 251 pages. NEW

Contains all the known contemporary accounts of the flightless Mascarene birds, their history after extinction and their ecology, classification and evolution. Numerous illustrations.

Indiana University Press, Bloomington, USA. Hardback with dust jacket. 406 pages. NEW

This beautiful book draws on a hidden archive of 12,000 botanical illustrations made between 1777 and 1816, as the Spanish Government surveyed its empire in Central and South America and the Phillipines. It provides a window into the worlds of Enlightenment science and culture.

The University of Chicago Press, USA, 2012. Hardback with dust jacket. 286 pages. NEW

A manual that covers the reef building corals of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The genera are described in detail, skeletal characters and living polyps. Colour illustrations.

T.F.H. Publications Inc., Neptune City, NJ, USA. Hardback, no dust jacket as issued. 256 page. SECONDHAND

A comprehensive field guide for aquarists, divers and naturalists, encompassing the majority of coral genera in reefs around the world. Illustrations and reference charts.

Ricordea Publishing, Coconut Grove, FL, USA. Hardback, no dust jacket as issued. 240 pages. SECONDHAND