Nature Books Popular and Scientific from The Franklin Bookshop, 1910 Catalogue 24, 1910-11 Season

Step into a time‑capsule of early‑ twentieth‑century natural history commerce. This audio walks you through a 1910 catalogue that lists dozens of mammal‑focused titles, from Harrison Allen’s pioneering bat monographs to lavish Audubon and Bachman plates of North American quadrupeds. Prices, condition notes and striking details about bindings—paper, half‑morocco or calf‑skin—paint a vivid picture of a collector’s world on the brink of modern science.

Beyond the numbers, the recording captures the enthusiasm of an era that prized richly illustrated, often limited‑edition works on bison, pinnipeds, shrews and beyond. Listeners hear the texture of historic publishing, the allure of copper‑plate illustrations, and the rarity of items such as original folio plates or hand‑coloured zoological sketches. It’s a concise glimpse into the passion for documenting wildlife that shaped today’s natural‑history literature.