The Way to Game Abundance: An Explanation of Game Cycles (Signed)
NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1949. First edition. Hardcover. Inscribed by Grange in the year of publication on the front free endpaper: "To John E. Alexander, From Wallace Grange. 10/31/49." Uncommon signed. A groundbreaking book in wildlife management, predating Durward Allen's important book by five years. The book is organized in four parts: "The Pattern of Life," "Plant and Animal Succession," "Population Cycles," and "The Technology of Game Increase." Some of the species that are profiled extensively are ruffed grouse and snowshoe hare, both of which Grange studied extensively (he was a Wisconsin "Grouse Fellow" under Aldo Leopold, and his first book in 1948 was Wisconsin Grouse Problems). This book was the one of the first to warn against the use of poisons in the environment and advocate for the use of fire in land management (influenced by Herbert Stoddard's research).
Wallace Byron Grange is an important 20th century conservationist and a member of the illustrious Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame. At 22, he became Wisconsin's first superintendent of game. He then worked for the US Biological Survey before returning to Wisconsin to buy and manage a 1,000-acre property that became his laboratory. It was purchased in 1962 by the state and is now the Sandhill Wildlife Area. Grange also won the John Burroughs Medal for natural history writing for his third and last book, Those of the Forest, a story about snowshoe hares in the tradition of Ernest Thompson Seton and other wildlife fiction writers.
Green buckram with gilt on spine. A fine copy except for a bump to lower front corner; near fine. In a very good jacket with some toning, minor loss to spine end, and some very short tears to edges and corners. Near fine / Very good. Item #1444
Price: $475.00 save 5% $451.25