Rare Book Wish List
Bowdich Lee, Sarah (1828[-1836].) The Fresh-water Fishes of Great Britain. London: Printed for the authoress and R. Ackermann.
Limited to 50 copies, this is one of the rarest fish books. This rare book would strengthen representation of female naturalists in the Museums Victoria Library collection and would be the only copy in an Australian library.
Buonanni [Bonanni], F. (1681) Ricreatione dell' occhio e della mente nell' osseruation delle Chiocciole, proposta a' curiosi delle opere della natura. Con quattrocento, e cinquanta figure di testacei diuersi, sopra cui si spiegano molti curiosi problemi.
Possibly the first work on malacology, the study of molluscs, one of the ongoing research interests of Museums Victoria. This title predates and would complement the 1685-91 work Historiae sive synopsis methodicae Conchyliorum by Martin Lister, which is currently the oldest title held in the Museums Victoria Library Rare Book Collection. Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus used many of the figures from Buonanni’s book as type specimens for the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, which went on to define modern zoological nomenclature. This would be the only copy in an Australian library.
Brown, Peter (1776) New illustrations of zoology, London, B. White.
This work contains the first coloured illustration of an Australian bird in Western science - the Rainbow Lorikeet – and would strengthen our collection of ornithology books and 18th century natural history.
Turner, William (1544) Avium praecipuarum, quarum apud Plinium et Aristotelem mentio est, brevis & succincta historia. Cologne, Joh. Gymnich.
This is the first printed bird book and the first book to describe bird species based on direct observation. This title would strengthen our fine collection of ornithology books and would also be an important example of 16th century natural history.
Gould, John (1837-8) The Birds of Australia and the Adjacent Islands 1 volume, 2 parts, 20 plates; London.
The Museums Victoria Library has an excellent, almost complete collection of John Gould’s works due to early purchasing by the museum’s first director Professor Frederick McCoy, and the acquisition of a significant private collection in the 1970s. We are seeking the two suppressed parts that predated his extensive Birds of Australia series, produced before he travelled to Australia to conduct the field work for his larger work that followed.
Jonstonus, Joannes (1653) Historiae naturalis de insectis. Francofurti : Haeredium Merianoru.
One of the most influential 17th century texts on entomology, this would strengthen our holdings in early natural history works. Illustrated by Matthäus Merian, father of renowned female naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian, this would complement our copy of her works De europische insecten bound together with Over de voorttelingen wonderbaerlyke Veranderingen der Surinaamsche Insecten.
Latham, John (1801) Supplement II to the General synopsis of birds, London : Leigh, Sotheby, & Son.
We are seeking the second supplement to complete our set of Latham’s General synopsis of birds, which contains significant Australian content.
Malpighi, Marcello (1669) Dissertatio epistolica de Bombyce. London: J Martyn & J Allestry Regie Societatis Typographos.
The first monograph on an invertebrate, demonstrating significant early use of the microscope as a scientific instrument. Malpighi’s observations showed that the silkworm had internal organs, which they had previously been thought not to. This title would strengthen our collection of 17th century titles and would be the first copy in an Australian library.
Meredith, Louisa Anne:
- Notes and sketches of New South Wales : during a residence in that colony from 1839 to 1844, 1844
- Tasmanian friends and foes, feathered, furred, and finned : a family chronicle of country life, natural history, and veritable adventure, 1880
- Some of my bush friends in Tasmania : native flowers, berries, and insects, drawn from life, illustrated in verse, and briefly described, 1860
- Over the straits : a visit to Victoria, 1861
English naturalist and author Louisa Anne Meredith observed and wrote about local flora and fauna after migrating to Australia in the mid-19th century. Rare books by Meredith would strengthen our representation of female naturalists working in Australia.
Topsell, Edward:
- The Historie of Foure Footed Beastes (1607)
- The Historie of Serpents (1608)
We are seeking an example of a bestiary for comparison with later scientific works that are more typically found in our library.