Reptiles and Birds Figuier c1878 2nd Ed School Prize Illustrated
 
Title & Bibliographic Details
Reptiles and Birds. A Popular Account of Their Various Orders, With a Description of the Habits and Economy of the Most Interesting from the French of Louis Figuier. Revised by Parker Gilmore ("Ubique")
New Edition (Second English Edition)
Published and printed by Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. London, Paris & New York.
Undated, but attributable to circa 1878–1883, based on the publisher’s imprint style.
With an abundance of Illustrations, including a tissue-guarded frontispiece, numerous full-page engravings, and extensive in-text wood engravings.
 
Historical & Bibliographic Context
This substantial Victorian natural history volume belongs to the great 19th-century tradition of popular scientific publishing, when illustrated zoological works brought the wider animal kingdom into the drawing rooms of Britain.
Louis Figuier’s works were widely translated and admired for their ability to combine scientific knowledge with accessible prose. This English edition, carefully revised by Parker Gilmore, reflects the era’s expanding interest in zoology, empire, exploration, and classification.
The imprint Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. precisely dates this edition to between 1878 and 1883, a relatively narrow bibliographic window before the firm became Cassell & Company Ltd. in 1883.
Richly illustrated natural history works of this scale were prized educational and prize-giving volumes, both informative and impressive in presentation.
 
About the Author
Louis Figuier (1819–1894) was a French scientist and popular science writer whose works helped popularise natural history across Europe. His books remain collected for their engravings and accessible scientific narrative.
 
About the Reviser – Parker Gilmore
Parker Gilmore (known as “Ubique”) was a 19th-century traveller, sportsman, and natural history writer. His revision brings an English sporting and observational perspective to Figuier’s continental scholarship, supported, as he notes, by encouragement from Frank Buckland and Henry Lee.
 
Binding & Exterior Description
Bound in blue cloth over boards and spine, decorated in black and gilt.
The front board and spine feature ornamental blocking, with a circular device and gilt prize lettering: “DAGNALL HOUSE SCHOOL PRIZE”
An attractive and historically evocative Victorian prize binding.
Condition externally shows:
Partial split along the long edge of the spine adjoining the front board
Bumping and small rips at corners
Rubbing, marks and discolouration to spine
Small losses at head and tail of spine
Despite wear, the volume retains strong shelf presence and decorative appeal.
 
Interior Condition
Collation: viii + 624 pages + 4-page publisher’s catalogue.
⚠️ Important Condition Note:
Pages 129–160 are missing, along with associated illustrations within that section.
Additional condition details:
Preface loose, with small edge creases and minor rips (text unaffected)
Light tanning throughout
Foxing and marks to pastedowns and endpapers
Small rip at lower edge of title page
Occasional small edge rips elsewhere (not affecting text)
Crack in gutter beside page 128
Light gutter cracking in a handful of places
A few leaves partially detached at inner margin but still secure
Occasional pressed leaf remains
Tissue guard to frontispiece slightly lifting at lower edge
All remaining pages present and generally clean, with only light foxing and minor marks.
 
Physical Details
Approx. 19.6 x 14 x 3.8 cm
Weight: approx. 647 grams
A substantial Victorian illustrated volume.
 
Rarity & Collector Notes
This edition is uncommon in prize binding form, particularly with named school presentation.
The missing gathering is reflected in pricing consideration, yet the book remains desirable for collectors of Victorian natural history, illustrated zoology, Cassell publications, prize bindings, and educational history.
 
Provenance
Prize inscription to front pastedown: “1st Prize Arithmetic Herbert E. Ritherdon”
Likely Herbert Ernest Ritherdon (b. 1867, Secunderabad, Madras; d. 1944, Bath).
Census records place him in Croydon in 1881 at Whitworth Road, The Elms. His father, Augustus W. Ritherdon, was a retired Major General of the Madras Native Infantry, placing the family firmly within the British imperial military class.
The Dagnall House School prize binding strongly aligns with this Croydon connection, suggesting this volume was awarded during his schooling in the late 1870s or early 1880s.
This creates a compelling link between Victorian education, imperial family background, illustrated natural history publishing.