2 volumes, large folio (508 x 343 mm). Vol. 1: hand-colored lithographic title, lithographic title, letterpress title, list of subscribers, preface, and list of plates; vol. 2: hand-colored lithographic title mounted, letterpress title, preface, and list of plates. 100 hand-colored lithographic plates, drawn on stone by Joseph Smit after the drawings of Joseph Wolf, each plate cut to the edge of the image and mounted on thin card in imitation of watercolors, with captions printed in gilt. (Very light and occasional spotting to text.) Late 19th century half green morocco gilt, spines in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt-lettering in 2, Greek-key roll gilt on bands (light rubbing to extremities, some discoloration to cloth boards, hinges reinforced, front hinge starting in vol.1). Provenance: William Meade Wheless (embossed stamps on letterpress titles).

FIRST EDITION, with the fine illustrations by "the best all-round animal painter that ever lived" (Sir Edwin Landseer). The work was commissioned by the Council of the Zoological Society in 1852, to provide "an accurate artistic record of the living form and expression of the many rare species of animals which exist from time to time in the menagerie." The council selected Joseph Wolf as the artist, who was already renowned for his collaborations with ornithologists Rüppell and Gould. The illustrations were released monthly, with the provisional text for parts I-VII prepared by David William Mitchell, who served as the society's secretary. Following Mitchell's death in 1859, Philip Sclater took over the project, curating the subjects and composing both the interim text and the final, permanent content, which accompanied the thirteenth and last installment. Anker 539; Fine Bird Books, p.115; Nissen IVB 1012; Wood, p.633.