The forerunners of Warne’s Observer’s Books

The Wayside & Woodland Series was a series of books on nature subjects for all readers, first published by Frederick Warne & Co over one hundred years ago. The first title was Wayside & Woodland Blossoms, by the naturalist, Edward Step, which was published in 1895. Several other titles followed from the same author. Later came Moths of the British Isles by Richard South and Birds of the British Isles by T.A. Coward.

The Wayside & Woodland books became classics, largely because of their beautiful illustrations. These books were designed to be pocket-sized and, like the later Observer’s Book Series, were concise, well-illustrated and packed with information. They were aimed at beginners and described birds, insects and flowers (among other things) in detail with pretty illustrations.

Many of the titles written for the Wayside & Woodland Series were copied (sometimes word for word) for the Observer’s Books Series. It was this existing text, pictures, and, in some cases, printing blocks, that enabled Warne to produce its later Observer’s Books so cheaply. This gave them a distinct advantage over their rivals who were also attempting to produce similar sets, such as Allen Lane’s King Penguins, as well as Collins and Adprint’s Britain in Pictures Series.

A complete list of Wayside & Woodland titles

The Wayside & Woodland books were published by Frederick Warne between 1895 and 1983. Included in the list below is a full list of titles and date of first publication. Please note that some titles included a number of different editions, as well as several design variations.

The early titles in the Wayside & Woodland Series (1895 to 1937)

• Wayside and Woodland Blossoms by Edward Step – 1895
• Wayside and Woodland Trees by Edward Step – 1904
• The Butterflies of the British Isles by Richard South – 1906
• The Moths of the British Isles by Richard South – 1907
• Wayside and Woodland Ferns by Edward Step – 1908
• Birds of the British Isles and their eggs by T.A. Coward – 1920
• Animal Life of the British Isles by Edward Step – 1921
• Life of the Wayside and Woodland by T.A. Coward – 1923
• The Fishes of the British Isles by J. Travis Jenkins – 1925
• The World in the Past by B. Webster Smith – 1926
• The Seas by F.S. Russell & C.M. Yonge – 1928
• Bees, Wasps, Ants and Allied Insects of the British Isles by Edward Step – 1932
• The Spiders and Allied Orders of the British Isles by Theodore H. Savory – 1935
• The Dragonflies of the British Isles by Cynthia Longfield – 1937

The later titles in the Wayside & Woodland Series (1944 to 1974)

• The Caterpillars of the British Butterflies by W.J. Stokoe & G.H.T. Stovin – 1944
• Shell Life by Edward Step – 1945
• The Caterpillars of the British Moths by W.J. Stokoe & G.H.T. Stovin – 1948
• Collecting and Breeding Butterflies and Moths by Brian Worthington-Stuart – 1951
• Flies of the British Isles by Charles N. Colyer & Cyril O. Hammond – 1951
• The Freshwater Life of the British Isles by John Clegg – 1952
• The Spider’s Web by Theodore H. Savory – 1952
• British Pyralid and Plume Moths by Bryan P. Beirne – 1952
• Beetles of the British Isles by E.F. Linssen – 1959
• Land and Water Bugs of the British Isles by T.R.E. Southwood & Dennis Leston – 1959
• Practical Entomology by R.L.E. Ford – 1963
• Grasshoppers, Crickets and Cockroaches of the British Isles by David R. Ragge – 1965
• Wayside and Woodland Fungi by W.P.K. Findlay – 1967
• British Shells by Nora F. McMillan – 1968
• Natural History of the Lake District by G.A.K. Harvey & John Barnes – 1970
• South’s British Butterflies by T.G. Howarth – 1973
• The Living Seashore by Joan M. Clayton – 1974

Are any titles in the series particularly valuable?

Honestly? No, finding copies of these beautiful vintage books in good condition will not make you rich. However, books with good condition spines, boards and dust jackets are collectible, and could be worth up to £35. Prices can vary from seller to seller and condition will always be important.

To see the Wayside & Woodland titles which I currently have available in my Etsy Shop please click HERE (by clicking this link my Etsy shop will open in a new tab).