Laid into this second edition is a sequence of letters between the author Charles P Hobkirk and their recipient, the book’s owner, James Eustace Bagnall. The letters mention the ‘club’ which is most probably a reference to The Moss Exchange Club set up in the 1800s with the main object of assisting its members in building up collections of correctly named specimens. Exchanges of specimens between members was instrumental in keeping interest in British and Irish mosses and liverworts alive during this period and greatly increased knowledge about the distribution of British and Irish species. The letters within this volume reveal the dialogue which surrounded this pursuit mentioning other collectors Dr Spruce, FR Lees, Mr Slater and Dr Braithwaite. The first two are written from Huddersfield and Dewsbury before Hobkirk moved to Ilkley. Their recipient James Eustace Bagnall ALS (7 November 1830 – 3 September 1918) was an English naturalist with a particular interest in botany, especially bryology. He was the author of the first Flora of Warwickshire (VC38) in 1891 and has left some annotation to this book.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
A very good copy. Second Edition. Half bound in a later addition blue calf over blue cloth boards. Marginally chipped to corners. Spine in 6 compartments, ruled and decoratively adorned in gilt, titled in gilt over red ground. A little chipped to top and tail. Endpapers clean front and rear. Two hand written letters both signed ‘Chas P Hobkirk’ dated March 1878 and May 1884 are bound in between front fly leaves, both written to Mr Bagnall, a fellow collector of mosses. One handwritten letter stapled to verso of half title page signed ‘Chas P Hobkirk’ dated Feb 1884 written to Mr Bagnall. Additional loose typed letter laid in also to Mr Bagnall dated Nov 1900 signed ‘Chas P Hobkirk’. Text block in very sound condition, a little browned to edges. Text legible and clean throughout, occasionally annotated. 238 pp.
