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LANKESTER, Edwin Ray
On Okapia, a new genus of Giraffidae, from Central Africa
Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, London [1902]. First edition. 4to., PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed on the upper wrapper "with the author's compliments", 3 lithographed plates (1 hand-coloured), original blue wrappers, bookplate of Rowland Ward, last plate slightly spotted.
The first proposal of the genus Okapia, with the first colour plate of the animal, officially discovered by Sir Harry Johnston in 1899. In 1888 H.m. Stanley recorded a meeting with Congo pygmies: "The Wambutti knew a donkey and called it Atti ... they eat leaves." (In Darkest Africa, vol. ii, p442). In 1899 Johnston was charged with returning a group of pygmies to the Congo forest, where he searched for this donkey-like animal. Later, when skeleton material and a complete skin became available, this was shown to be erroneous and in November 1901 Lankester proposed the genus Okapia for "Johnston's zebra."
Price: £ 1500
US Dollar Price: $ 2980
Stock Number: 50393