Percival's medical ethics

J. M. CHALMERS-HUNT (compiler), Natural history auctions 1700-1972. A register of sales in the British Isles, London, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1976, fo., pp. xii, 189, £12.50. For those interested in natural history, this is an important book. The collecting of natural history specimens has been popular for centuries and for a variety of reasons. The disposal of the resulting collections by auction has taken place in this country since the late eighteenth century, and nearly 1,600 sales have been conducted. One of the important features of any sale is the catalogue prepared for it, for this may often be the only information we now have of a private collection. This, of course, is true for any type of auctioned material. Sothebys have had the excellent idea of listing all the sales of natural history items that have taken place in the British Isles. First there are fascinating essays describing the various auctions, of entomological, botanical, ornithological, oological, fossil, mineral and shell specimens, each written by an expert. Thereafter the sales, ranging from 22 March 1710 to 12-15 December 1972, are listed (pp. 57-180). The source of the material, its nature, the auctioneer, and the whereabouts ofacatalogue are recorded, with interesting footnotes; there is an index of the names of the collections, the vendors and the collectors. This volume is, therefore, an invaluable source-book for workers in natural history. Its production is of a high order of excellence, with the thoughtful inclusion of a few blank terminal pages for the owner's notes and additions. Admittedly the labour would be greater, but would that someone could produce a similar record of book auction sales!