One of the Eariest works on the Moa - Dedication copy by Gideon Mantell to John Tomes - "Notice of the remains of the Dinornis and other Birds" - 1850

"Notice of the Remains of the Dinornis and other Birds, and of Fossils and Rock-Specimens, recently collected by Walter Mantell, Esq. In the Middle Island of New Zealand"

-By Gideon Algernon Mantell, Esq., LLD., FRS. LS. GS. etc.

-London 1850

-Complete pamphlet

-With Dedication: "J. Tomes F.R.S with the Author's kind regards"

A kiwi bird graces the title page to this beautiful dedication copy of one of the earliest tracts on Moa.

This copy is signed by Gideon Mantell - one of the pioneering palaeontologists and discoverer of the Iguanodon - to John Tomes F.R.S. - an important dental surgeon 🦷

Moa were large flightless birds which inhabited New Zealand from c50 million years ago until c500 years ago. They were perfectly suited to the forested environment, with few predators - apart from the impressive 20kg Haast’s eagle which died out at the same time. The coming of humans to New Zealand c800 years ago unfortunately brought a swift end to their 50 million year existence.

In the 1850s there was huge interest in moa fossils - with Richard Owen suggesting they came from a giant extinct bird. These discussions would feed the public imagination of the day, as well as influencing Darwin’s theories on evolution which were eventually published in 1859.