The natural history of Norway: containing a particular and accurate account of the temperature of the air, the different soils, waters, vegetables, metals, minerals, stones, beasts, birds, and fishes; together with the dispositions, customs, and manner of living of the inhabitants ...
by PONTOPPIDAN, Erich
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, London, United Kingdom
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About This Item
First published as Det første Forsøg paa Norges naturlige Historie at Copenhagen in 1752-53, the work is divided into two parts. The first covers Norway's 'air' (i.e. climate), 'soils and mountains', 'waters', 'vegetables', 'sea-vegetables', 'gems and curious stones', and 'metals and minerals', while the second describes its quadrupeds, serpents, insects, birds, fish, and sea monsters, ending with an 'account of the Norwegian nation'.
Pontoppidan argues for the existence of sea serpents ('the great sea-snakes I once held only for chimera, but am now fully convinced that they are found in the North sea, as sure as any other fish' (II p. 38)), of mermen and mermaids ('as to the existence of the creature, we may safely give our assent to it' (II p. 187)), and of the kraken ('the largest sea-monster in the world' (II p. 210)).
Provenance: presented by William F. Macy, President of the Nantucket Historical Association, to the Arctic explorer and ethnologist Vilhjalmur Stefansson (1879-1962), passing from him in 1952 to Dartmouth College Library.
ESTC 89156.
2 parts in 1 vol., fol., pp. xxiii, [1], 206, with large folding map of Norway hand-coloured in outline and 12 engraved plates, wanting 2 original plates (depicting corals and minerals) which are supplied in smaller format from another edition mounted on a single leaf facing p. 168; vii, [1], 291, [13], with 14 engraved plates; very occasional light foxing, a little cockling; very good in near contemporary dark yellow paper-covered boards, vellum lettering-piece to spine, red edges (likely bound by Linde); some wear to corners, edges and spine ends; with ALS from Bill Macy of the Nantucket Historical Association (17 May 1932), his pencil inscription to Vilhjalmur Stefansson (May 1932), and book label of the Stefansson collection Dartmouth College Library to front endpapers, cancelled duplicate stamp to title verso.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Bernard Quaritch Ltd (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- T5058.392
- Title
- The natural history of Norway
- Author
- PONTOPPIDAN, Erich
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First English edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publisher
- A. Linde
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1755
- Size
- Folio
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
Terms of Sale
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About the Seller
Bernard Quaritch Ltd
About Bernard Quaritch Ltd
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Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
- Vellum
- Vellum is a sheet of specialty prepared skin of lamb, calf, or goat kid used for binding a book or for printing and writing. ...