[WHITE, Gilbert (1720-93)]. The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, London, 1789, 4to, folding engraved frontispiece, 6 engraved plates, 2 illustrations, contemporary calf. FIRST EDITION.

[WHITE, Gilbert (1720-93)].  The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, in the County of Southampton: with Engravings, and an Appendix. London: Printed by T. Bensley, 1784. 2 parts bound in one, 4to (258 x 195mm). Folding engraved frontispiece captioned "North East view of Selborne from the Short Lythe", oval illustration on additional engraved title, 6 engraved plates, 2 engraved illustrations including one on second part-title, with pagination errors [as usual], errata leaf at end (some mainly marginal spotting and staining to plates, some light offsetting of plates onto text). Contemporary speckled calf gilt, spine with black morocco lettering-piece, marbled endpapers, green silk marker (head of spine chipped, rubbed, some minor repairs to spine). Provenance: The Property of the late Frank Graham (1913-2006, modern bookplate), and thence by descent; Robin Shield (modern ex-libris sticker); Richard Gregory (old signature on B1, with his neat and informed annotation to the foot of a few pages and annotated sheets inserted at p.197 and p.203, both illustrated). FIRST EDITION of this celebrated work "... which displays [White's] affectionate and detailed observations of wild life and nature, and his love of the picturesque in landscape. It slowly gathered a wide reputation, with both scientists (C. Darwin read it with enthusiasm as a boy) and general readers, went through many editions, and remains a classic" (The Oxford Companion to English Literature, ed. by Margaret Drabble, 1985). Collations vary for this work, with some choosing to count illustrations and vignettes as plates. Our copy conforms exactly to the list of plates found at the end of the index. Brunet IV, 713: "Très belle édition de cet ouvrage estimé"; Grolier English 62; Nissen IVB 985; Rothschild 2550; Lewine Bibliography of Eighteenth Century Art and Illustrated Books p.574.