Ootheca Wolleyana by John Wolley and A. Newton (ed.)

Author: Wolley, John & Newton, A. (ed.)
Title: Ootheca Wolleyana
Subtitle: An Illustrated Catalogue of the Collection of Birds' Eggs, Begun by the Late John Wolley, Jun., M.A., F.Z.S., and Continued with Additions by the Editor Alfred Newton
Publisher: R.H. Porter
Date: 1864-1907
Place: London
Dimensions:  8vos. 26cm x 17cm

Vol 1: Frontispiece portrait+xxix+pp1-180pp+ii(list of plates)+18 (plates)+Part 2 TP+pp181-pp528+8 (plates)+pp529-pp531(index).
Vol 2: Plate P + vi + iii + 665pp + folding map + 96pp Appendix

Green pebbled cloth boards, plain gilt titles to spine. TesG. Chromolithographic plates of eggs, two coloured plates of birds, b/w plates, in text illustrations, a coloured map and a few monochromatic plates. Both volumes with the red leather and gilt bookplate of South African businessman and conservationist C.S. “Punch” Barlow.

Besides the text dealing with the individual specimens Vol. 1 also contains a memoir on Wolley (pp. IX-XXXIX) and Vol. 2 (pp. 96) an appendix of sixty items, 'The publications on natural history of John Wolley, except those included in the body of the work (Anker). The text is extensively expanded with comments by Alfred Newton, to whom Wolley left his egg collection when he died at the tender age of 36.

John Wolley was an egg collector, whose unpublished research into the Great Auk or Garefowl- a now extinct species of flightless bird, much larger but closely resembling a penguin - is some of the "most important documentations of the life and death of the [species]". In the feverish pursuit for increasingly rare specimens by collectors and museums, the last known breeding pair of Auks were captured and strangled by Icelandic sailors on Eldey Island, one of them breaking the last remaining egg in the struggle. According to Errol Fuller, though his contribution to the story is little known, John Wolley was one of the biggest players in the lore surrounding the Auk. Wolley is said to be the sole reason that the names of the sailors and the events on Eldey that lead to the definitive extinction date of the Auk on 3 June 1844 are known (1999). Volume 2 of the present work contains 8 plates, each with 2 finely coloured figures of Great Auk eggs.

Volume 1 with some rubbing to a corner of the top board, lower board with some insect marks. Frontispiece a little foxed, plates variably foxed, some fairly heavily. Plate J age toned, light, scattered foxing to the text. 1cm closed tear to pp39/40 Binding square and tight, a very good copy. Volume 2 binding slightly shaken, rubbing and insect marks to both boards. Gutter split at Plate P before first blank prelim. Very light foxing to some of the text, plates without foxing, final page toned and foxed,  very good copy.

From the library of South African natural history book dealer, publisher and conservationist Russel Friedman.

Anker 541. 
1999. Fuller, E. The Great Auk. The Author. Southborough.