COLLECTING THE NEW NATURALISTS. By Tim Bernhard and Timothy Loe. The New Naturalist Library.

2015 1st edition. Large 4to (225 x 286mm). Pp352. Colour and b/w photographs, colour and b/w illustrations, bibliography. Pictorial matt-laminated boards, issued without dust-wrapper.

Probably one of the most detailed books of its kind ever written - an invaluable reference book for the collector. "The Collins New Naturalist series is the longest-running and arguably the most influential natural history series in the world with over 120 volumes published in nearly 70 years. Being a numbered series, with a very low print run for some volumes, New Naturalist publications have been and continue to be highly collectable. Second-hand copies of the rarer volumes, in very good condition, can command high prices. As such, there is considerable interest in a detailed bibliography and history of the series." This is an astonishingly thorough work which includes all the information you would expect. Plus a great deal more that you wouldn't, for instance; a photographic guide to cloths used in New Naturalist bindings, photographs of the signatures of all the authors, numerous biographies, a photographic guide to publishers' price labels - the sticky ones on the dust-wrapper. Chapters include: Foreword by Peter Marren; Natural history publishing, the genesis of the New Naturalist Library and, some collecting issues; The New Naturalist - bibliographic features and editions; The Bibliography; The artists and their designs; A cluster of collectors and their reflections on a bibliophilic passion; New Naturalist authors and editors and their publications. "Collecting the New Naturalists offers a detailed insight into the fascinating phenomenon that has gripped Britain since just after World War II and which reflects the country's continued enthusiasm for wildlife and nature publishing generally. With previously unpublished in-depth insight into the workings of the series and its collectors, the book comprehensively covers every aspect of the New Naturalists, from rare editions produced for Bloomsbury and the Readers Union to foreign editions, interviews with the iconic cover artists and well-known naturalists such as Nick Baker and Alan Titchmarsh telling the story of their own fascination with the series." Of unparalleled interest to any bibliophile, not just the dedicated New Naturalist collector.