first edition Cloth
1954 · London
by Edited by Dennis Chitty and H.N. Southern
London: Oxford University Press (The Clarendon Press), 1954. Cloth. Very Good/Very Good +. The 1954 1st edition, uncommon in the complete 3 volume set. In fact this set is one of the publisher's file copies, stamped on each title page and each front free endpaper "Property of Oxford University Press Library--Not to Be Taken Away". The set was de-accessioned recently by the Press itself, some 70 years after these stern stamps were applied to the books. Each volume otherwise bears minor ex-libris reminders, including small bookplates at each front pastedown, the remnants of glue where each front flap had once been pasted onto the book and finally, light, neat call letters along the bottom half of each spine. Still though, the set is bright, else very clean internally and actually very presentable. Solidly VG in crisp, price-intact, VG+ dustjackets, with just a bit of light soiling at several spots. Uniform octavos, filled with hundreds of tables, charts and photos throughout. World War II itself no doubt triggered this extensive research on the proliferation of rodent populations amid the widespread devastation. Vols. I and II are devoted to rats, Vol. III to mice. The first 2 volumes edited by Dennis Chitty, the final volume edited by H.N. Southern. (Inventory #: 23060)