Naturalist on the River Amazons - photo 1
Naturalist on the River Amazons - photo 2
Naturalist on the River Amazons - photo 3

Naturalist on the River Amazons

Lot 2
19.10.2023 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 2 520
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1032655
Lot 2 | Naturalist on the River Amazons
Estimate value
$ 2 500 – 3 500
Henry Walter BATES (1825-1892). The Naturalist on the River Amazons, A Record of Adventures, Habits of Animals, Sketches of Brazilian and Indian life, and Aspects of Nature under the Equator, during Eleven Years of Travel. London, John Murray, 1863.

First edition of Bates’ classic account of his travels with Wallace in the Amazon river basin. An excellent copy. Charles Darwin wrote, "Bates is only excelled by von Humboldt in his description of the tropical forest." His stay of 11 years in the Amazon was very much longer than most of his naturalist counterparts in the mid 19th century.

It was the result of Darwin’s encouragement that Bates wrote the present work, considered a masterpiece of scientific travel literature. Darwin was impressed by the theory of what is now termed "Batesian mimicry" amongst insects, first announced by Bates in his famous paper "Contributions to an insect fauna of the Amazon Valley. Lepidoptera: Heliconidae," on 21 November 1861. For a description of the important friendship and collaboration between Darwin, Alfred Wallace, and Bates, see the two Darwin presentation copies in this sale. Borba de Moraes, p 91; Sabin 3932a.

Two volumes, octavo (200 x 122mm). Illustrated with 9 wood-engraved plates, including the two frontispieces, a folding map and text illustrations (few spots to prelims). 32-page publisher's catalogue dated January 1863 at end of vol. 1. Original cloth, with gilt-stamped vignettes on upper covers (foot of vol. 1 spine worn, a little shaken with upper hinges weak, light wear to tips, some spotting to endleaves/fore-edges). Provenance: the Barony of Tollemache (armorial bookplates).
Artist:Henry Walter Bates (1825 - 1892)
Place of origin:England
Auction house category:Medicine & science, Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
14.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
15.10.2023 13:00 – 17:00
16.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
17.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
18.10.2023 10:00 – 17:00
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>