NATURAL HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, FOR CHILDREN: Combined with an Attempt to Engraft on the Youthful Mind, the Principles of Tenderness and Compassion for the Animal Creation.

Second edition. Publisher's original quarter roan over marbled boards with gilt ruling and titles to the spine. Illustrated with 25 engraved plates (complete), with each plate displaying two or three animals. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with wear to the corners, minor loss to the bottom corner of the upper board, and a little rubbing to the joints and spine ends. The contents possibly lacking a blank front free endpaper and with a little offsetting from the plates and occasional spotting to plate margins are otherwise in very good order. An appealing copy.

An uncommon children's natural history from the Regency period, well-illustrated with an attractive suite of engravings. The work was first published in 1813 'by the Author of The Decoy', an educational work on English grammar; this second edition is the first to credit 'a lady' with its authorship. The author of several works for children, she is likely the 'E. Ballantine' recorded in the Darton and Harvey copyright receipt book for 'Natural History for Children' and 'the Lamb'.