Thomas Horsfield

Zoological researches in Java and the neighbouring islands. London: Kingsbury, Padbury & Allen, [1821-] 1824

4to, 63 hand-coloured plates, 8 uncoloured, original silk bookmark, contemporary straight-grained blue morocco gilt, edges gilt, some show-through of paint, occasional light spotting

Originally published in eight parts, this work has now become quite scarce. Horsfield served under the Dutch in Java and Sumatra in 1799 and, when the English took temporary possession of the Malayan colonies in 1811, he transferred his services to the British. He was dispatched by Sir Stamford Raffles to the smaller island of Banca to observe its natural history, finally leaving the East Indies in 1819 after nearly twenty years of servi🗹ce. Upon his return, Horsfield was appointed keeper of the museum of the East India Company in Leadenhall Street; and the present work is dedicated to the&nb🔯sp;Directors of the East India Company, and remains one of the most important descriptions of the zoology of the area.

LITERATURE:

McGill/Wood, p. 389; Nissen ZBI 2002