Michael Majerus – Ladybirds – New Naturalist No. 81 – First Edition 1994

Author: Michael E. N. Majerus
Title: Ladybirds
Series: The New Naturalist Library, No. 81
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Place: London
Date: 1994
Edition: First Edition
Format: Octavo
ISBN: 0-00-219934-3
Dustwrapper Design: Robert Gillmor
Catalogue Number: 004169

Description

A particularly attractive first edition of Michael E. N. Majerus’s Ladybirds, published in 1994 as No. 81 in the New Naturalist Library.

Majerus was a leading authority on ladybirds and an important evolutionary geneticist. In this substantial New Naturalist monograph he examines the Coccinellidae in considerable depth, combining field observation with ecology, genetics and evolutionary biology.

The book begins with the historical study of ladybirds before examining their anatomy and structure, annual life cycle, reproductive strategies and feeding behaviour. Further sections consider the relationship between ladybirds and their prey, predators and parasites, population biology, colour and pattern variation, mimicry, genetics and evolution. Although firmly rooted in the British fauna, the treatment places British species within the broader biological history of the family.

Illustrated with sixteen colour plates and more than 150 black-and-white photographs and drawings.

Ladybirds forms volume 81 of the New Naturalist Library, the long-running series founded by Collins to provide authoritative accounts of British natural history written by specialists in their respective fields. Later first editions in the series are increasingly collected in their own right, with condition of the original dustwrapper particularly important.

The striking jacket was designed by Robert Gillmor, one of Britain’s foremost wildlife artists and a major figure in the visual history of the New Naturalist series. His bold depiction of a seven-spot ladybird gives this volume one of the more immediately recognisable jackets among the later numbers.

Condition

Original binding tight and firm. Pages nice and clean. A fine copy in a near fine original dustwrapper, retaining the publisher’s £30.00 net price. The wrapper has only very slight creasing, with some fading to the spine. The dustwrapper has now been protected in an easily removable clear archival sleeve.

Catalogue Number: 004169

Cataloguer: Daniel Hornsey of Hornseys, Ripon: Specialist Dealer in First Editions and Fine Copies of the Collins New Naturalist Series

Daniel Hornsey, a partner of Hornseys in Ripon, is widely regarded as a trusted specialist in the field of modern British natural history books, with a particularly strong reputation for handling first editions and fine copies of the Collins New Naturalist series. His expertise has been built over many years of professional bookselling, during which he has developed a deep understanding of the series’ publishing history, bibliographic nuances, and the specific qualities that distinguish truly exceptional copies.

As a long-standing member of the antiquarian book trade, he has advised private collectors, curated catalogues, and sourced works for leading dealers, libraries and institutions across the world.

Hornseys, an established independent bookshop and gallery, is known for its careful curation and its emphasis on quality. Under Daniel Hornsey’s guidance, the shop has become a respected destination for collectors seeking rare, well-preserved, and accurately described volumes. He is recognised for his meticulous approach to condition assessment, his knowledge of dust-jacket variants and print histories, and his ability to source scarce titles—including early post-war first impressions, fine first editions and variant editions.

Collectors value his transparency, his attention to detail, and his commitment to presenting books exactly as they are, without exaggeration. This reliability is essential in a field where subtle differences in condition or printing can dramatically influence desirability and value. Whether advising a new collector or assisting an experienced bibliophile in completing a long-standing run, Daniel Hornsey combines practical bookselling experience with a genuine enthusiasm for the New Naturalist series.

Through Hornseys, he continues to contribute to the preservation, appreciation, and responsible circulation of these landmark works of British natural history publishing.

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