Eleven Years in the Amazon with Birds and Bugs

The Naturalist on the River Amazons

A Record of Adventures, Habits of Animals, Sketches of Brazilian and Indian Life, and Aspects of Nature under the Equator, during Eleven Years of Travel [J. W. Whymper and others Illus.]

Bates, Henry Walter, 1863, London: John Murray

This book was a significant contribution to Amazon river knowledge. It was well received and became a travel classic with many printings and translations. From the Encyclopedia Britannica article, “It is a curiously structured book, part detailed diary, part general account of the region, and part precise description of particular fauna, but it provides a fascinating record of the natural environment and wildlife of Amazonia …”. Charles Darwin, in a letter to Bates, wrote "The best book of Natural History Travels ever published in England."

Very Good In Two Volumes, [7.75x5.25in, 19.5x13cm]; Vol. I- [iii], viii, [1], list of illustrations, 351 pp., five plates of illustrations including frontispiece illustration of Bates in forest, 13 illustrations in text, fold out map at rear [The Amazons from its mouth to the frontier of Peru], Vol. II- [iii], vi, pp. 423, four plates of illustrations including frontispiece, 20 illustrations in text, index; Three-quarter contemporary dark green calf binding on marbled boards, raised spine with gilt lettering on black and red labels, rules and designs, marbled end papers, marbled ink on all edges; Some shelf wear to cover surfaces, edges and corners with chipping along edges, rubbing to marbled papers and leather, all edges rubbed, last leave and end paper in Vol. II loose, but attached, minor age toning to text without any foxing, lacking publisher advertising. [Howgego II B14] DK