Memoir On The Gorilla (Troglodytes Gorilla, Savage). By Richard Owen, D.C.L., F.R.S., Superintendent Of The Natural History Departments In The British Museum; Foreign Associate Of The Institute Of France, Etc.
Plates 10, 11 are unsigned. The rest are signed as lithographed by J. Wolf, G.H. Ford or F. Robinson (pl. 2 as drawn and lithographed by J. Wolf; pl. 13 as lithographed by G.H. Ford 'ad nat.').
The printers' imprint of M. & N. Hanhart is carried by pl. 1, 2; that of W. West by pl. 3-19 and 13.
Summary Note
The Advertisement states that this work 'includes the substance, or portions, of the "Contributions to the Natural History of the Anthropoid Apes," Nos. VI., VII., and VIII., printed in the Fourth and Fifth Volumes of the "Transactions of the Zoological Society of London."'
The plates are captioned, and show: I. Troglodytes Gorilla. mas adult.; II. Troglodytes Gorilla. fœm et juv.; III.-VI. Troglodytes Gorilla; VII. Negro; Chimpanzee; VIII. Chimpanzee; IX. [uncaptioned; skulls]; X. Pithecus Satyrus, 1 mas. 2.pullus.; XI. Troglodytes Gorilla; XII. Homo. var. melanoides; XIII. Homo; Troglodytes Gorilla.
The plates are lithographs; the first two are printed in colour.
Provenance
2 June 1865: 'Laid on the Table a copy of a work entitled "Memoir of the Gorilla" presented by the Author, Professor Owen, to the Library of the Royal Academy. Ordered that the same be acknowledged with thanks.' (RA Council Minutes, XII, 232). A preliminary leaf is inscribed in ink, 'For the Library of the Royal Academy of Arts, from the Author.'
Binding Note
19th-century green papered boards; spine lettered 'Owen. - Memoir On The Gorilla.'
Subject
Animals - Gorilla - Anatomy - Skeleton - Africa
Natural history - Zoology - Great Britain - 19th century
Pictorial works - Lithographs - Colour printing - Great Britain - 19th century