A leaf from the natural history of New Zealand (1848)

The Reverend Richard Taylor, like Rev. William Colenso and a number of contemporary amateur scientists of the cloth, was a dedicated natural historian whose contributions to the emergent network of scientific communication was important in the development of local and international interest in the distinctive features of New Zealand. In this work, Taylor attempts a systematic organisation of the country's flora, fauna, geology, religion, and foodstuffs; he also includes examples of the Maori language as well as instances of their pharmacopoeia and mythology. Robert Stokes' printing of this pocket-size handbook "at the office of the New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Manners-St., Te Aro" foregrounds the ephemeral nature and lack of industry standards born of necessity at this time.

Further reading:

• Kathryn Mercer, "The Missionary Naturalist. A Case study of New Zealand Scientific Communication to 1870," Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand: MLIS Research Project, 2000.