Sea and Air Mammals, 1972, Series 691

Sea and Air Mammals, 1972, series 691

This is the last book in the Animals of the World series, 691. It was both written and beautifully illustrated by John Leigh-Pemberton.   There were 7 books in the series, covering the mammals of the main continents and then with an additional volume ‘Air and Sea Mammals’.  The artwork and research in these books is superb – probably Leigh-Pemberton’s tour-de-force for Ladybird.  Sadly, it’s not a well-known series today and so goes rather unappreciated.

This copy:

This matt copy is in fair to good condition only.  The covers have darkened (with age? smoke?  there’s no smell) and there are some marks and rubbing to the edges and back cover.  Inside the book is generally in good condition but for a stamp to the front pages and a little discoloration of pages.  However, the last few pages have been affected by the same process as the covers at the edges – see photos.

It dates to the mid 1970s and has the original price of 24p on the back.  This is the hardest book in the series to get hold of and, although it has its fault, it would still make a fair addition to a collection.