While it has been stated that the color illustrations from “The Nature Library – Birds” book are “not quite Audubon” they are still wonderfully charming and a timeless look back to the turn of the last century. Originally published in 1917 and then reprinted in 1927 by Doubleday, Page and Company the book is comprised of the selected writings of Neltje Blanchan and has forty-eight full color illustrations (most printed back-to-back throughout the text) by R. E. Todhunter. There is no information available, or none that I could online find on Todhunter, except illustrations from this book continue to be popular today – possibly for the beautiful birds that are shown in their natural habitat.
Neltje Blanchan DeGraff Doubleday (1865 – 1918) was a United States born scientific historian and nature writer who wrote books on gardening and birds using the penname Neltje Blanchan. In 1886 she married Frank Nelson Doubleday – their partnership was both a personal and professional success. Doubleday was extremely supportive of his wife's writing career. While her works were not considered as authoritative or consequential as other women nature writers, she enjoyed wide popularity and contributed a great deal to the national conservation movement. She died in Canton, China while in the service of the Red Cross.
Condition: Bright navy-blue cloth boards with the Nature Library embossed decoration in gold gilt on the cover and on the spine. The spine shows fading of the text but it is still faintly readable. The back strip of the spine and the boards show very limited wear but all corners show bumping with minor wear. Slight blemishes to both the front and rear boards. The spine is straight, binding is tight, and hinges are sound with no cracking to the endpapers. Text block is solid with gold gilt page edge along the top and with all pages firmly attached. Previous owner inscription and date on the front free endpaper. Age tanning throughout. All internal pages are clean, with no tears and no other previous owner marks except the rear free endpaper has been torn with only approximately ¼ of the page still intact. 257 pages including the index pages. Dimensions: H – 9-1/4” W – 6”
Books are shipped via USPS Media Mail
Product code: The Nature Library - online Birds, by Neltje Blanchan, illustrated by R. E. Todhunter, Vintage 1927 Book