Among the most admired and rarest works ever created are the large- scale books of natural history. The detailed drawings and the remarkable color reproductions found in these magnificent editions truly astounded the art and book worlds. Great Natural History Books and their Creators reveals the incredible stories behind these exceptional collectors books. Ray Desmond engagingly shares with the reader the dramatic behind-the-scene story of how these rare volumes were created. He conveys the hardships and sacrifices by the early artists whose works are forever preserved in these beautiful volumes. This edition contains over 115 illustrations (69 in full color plates) with many beautifully reproduced color plates from original copies derived from The British Library and other major cities. Ray Desmond was Chief Librarian at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Deputy Keeper of the India Office Library. He has written more than 20 books on the history of natural history. Co-published with the British Library.