Old English Sporting Books by Ralph Nevill edited by Geoffrey Holme published by the Studio Limited , London MCMXXIV , 1924 Limited edition number 1432 of 1500. 

31.5 x 21 cm approx in a red cloth binding over boards with illustration to the front board and title all in bright gilt. Spine faded with gilt lettering , Rodent damage ot the bottom of the spine (14cm x 1cm ) Book still tight and firm . Pictorial and Patterned end papers in dark blue with the armorial bookplate of Gavin Maxwell to the front pastedown. With loose library shelf ticket for the Monreith House Library. 

Half title (reverse with Ltd No) + Title page in red and black + xi + 34pp + 1pp + 107 plates, some tipped in and in colour with tissue guard, the majority in mono on gloss paper. Some age marks but mainly clean throughout , heavy book. 

Gavin Maxwell (1914–1969) was an aristocratic Scottish naturalist, explorer, and author who became a global literary superstar for writing the iconic nature memoir Ring of Bright Water (1960). He is widely regarded as one of the most influential nature and travel writers of the 20th century.

In 1956, Maxwell travelled through the marshes of southern Iraq with the legendary explorer Wilfred Thesiger. While there, he adopted an orphaned, smooth-coated otter cub and brought it back to his wildly remote coastal cottage, Camusfeàrna (Sandaig), in the West Highlands of Scotland.

Scientific Discovery: The otter, named Mijbil, turned out to be a sub-species previously unknown to Western science. Zoologists officially named the animal after him: Lutrogale perspicillata maxwelli.