FIRST EDITION OF A NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK CITY, INSCRIBED IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION BY AUTHOR JOHN KIERAN

KIERAN, John. A Natural History of New York City. A Personal Report After Fifty years of Study & Enjoyment of Wildlife Within the Boundaries of Greater New York. Boston and Cambridge: Houghton Mifflin and Riverside Press, 1959. Octavo, original pictorial teal cloth, cartographic endpapers, original dust jacket. $350.

First edition of this innovative take on natural history for "sidewalk naturalists," inscribed on the half title in the year of publication: "For Marion McCrane, with best wishes, John Kieran. Rockport, Mass, Christmas, 1959."

"For the city dweller who is a country gentleman at heart, John Kieran's extensive view of the 'many kinds and untold numbers of wild things' to be found surprisingly in New York City reveals—not surprisingly—a lifetime of lively interest and observation and investigation… Kieran examines all aspects from the geology of the asphalt jungles to its geography and climate; the life in the sea water, rivers, ponds and park lakes; the insect world and other invertebrates outdoors and indoors; fish, amphibians and reptiles; plants and flowers, trees and shrubs, mammals, birds. Along with this inventory of the many growing, swimming, flying, living members of the natural world there is a great deal of additional addenda on origins and folklore and scientific background—as well as the occasional anecdote… [A] book for steady use and reference" (Kirkus). This copy is inscribed to Marion McCrane, possibly the longtime baby animal caretaker at the National Zoo. Owner gift inscription on cartographic endpaper, presumably by the person who secured the inscription: "To Marion—Merry Christmas—from Herb."

Book with only mild toning to spine, dust jacket with light wear and a bit of toning mainly to extremities. A near-fine inscribed copy.