Annals of the Natal Museum – Vol. IV, Part 2, November 1920 edited by Ernest Warren

An uncommon original 1920 issue of Annals of the Natal Museum, Volume IV, Part 2, edited by Ernest Warren, D.Sc. (Lond.), Director of the Natal Museum. Issued on 6 November 1920 and printed in London by Adlard & Son & West Newman Ltd. by order of the Trustees of the Natal Museum, this substantial scientific publication contains several important early studies concerning the natural history, botany and entomology of South Africa.

Of particular botanical interest is “The Plant Ecology of the Coast Belt of Natal” by J. W. Bews, Professor of Botany at Natal University College. Illustrated with Plates XXII–XXVI and four text figures, this early ecological study is an important contribution to the documentation and understanding of the vegetation of what is now KwaZulu-Natal.

Annals of the Natal Museum opens with Claude Fuller’s extensive “Studies on the Post-embryonic Development of the Antennae of Termites”, illustrated with Plate XV and fourteen text figures. Fuller examines termite life history, antennal anatomy, embryonic development, joint modification and numerous southern African termite species.

Annals of the Natal Museum is a desirable piece of early South African scientific literature with particular appeal to collectors and researchers interested in Natal and KwaZulu-Natal history, Africana, South African botany, plant ecology, termites, entomology, zoology and the history of scientific research in southern Africa.

Condition – Very Good

Very good 1920 paperback publication in the original printed wrappers. Light general shelf wear and handling marks are present, with minor edge wear and small areas of loss to the paper covering of the spine. The wrappers show some light marking and spotting. The binding remains intact and the internal pages present well.