The Life of the Elephant By Bradley Smith
The Life of the Elephant (First Edition)
A Comprehensive Visual Study of the Habits, Anatomy, and Heritage of the African Elephant
A Comprehensive Visual Study of the Habits, Anatomy, and Heritage of the African Elephant
Bibliographic Specifications
• Title: The Life of the Elephant
• Author: Bradley Smith (Photographs by Bradley Smith and Jerry Cooke)
• Publisher: Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd, London / New York
• Publication Date: 1972
• ISBN-10: 0600354539
• ISBN-13: 9780600354536
• Edition Details: First Edition, Standard Hardcover Release.
• Binding: Original publisher's premium textured cloth-bound hardboards accented by custom spine typography, housed in the original illustrated dust jacket.
• Physical Format: Quarto (4to), 48 pages. Extensively enhanced with full-page colour sections alongside detailed black-and-white field photographs, anatomical outlines, and regional maps printed on high-grade coated paper.
• Language: English
• Title: The Life of the Elephant
• Author: Bradley Smith (Photographs by Bradley Smith and Jerry Cooke)
• Publisher: Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd, London / New York
• Publication Date: 1972
• ISBN-10: 0600354539
• ISBN-13: 9780600354536
• Edition Details: First Edition, Standard Hardcover Release.
• Binding: Original publisher's premium textured cloth-bound hardboards accented by custom spine typography, housed in the original illustrated dust jacket.
• Physical Format: Quarto (4to), 48 pages. Extensively enhanced with full-page colour sections alongside detailed black-and-white field photographs, anatomical outlines, and regional maps printed on high-grade coated paper.
• Language: English
Official Condition Report
• The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
o Exterior / Boards: The original publisher's hardboards are in very good condition, keeping flat faces, crisp edges, and unbumped corner joints. The spine remains completely undamaged, unbent, and vertically straight, holding its original secure binding geometry.
o Interior: Pristine, intact, and clean. The internal pages and rich photographic sections are free of localized foxing, page-toning, or user thumb-soil. Free of any standard defects, including former owner name plates, gift inscriptions, library ink stamps, or dealer pencil annotations.
• The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
o Condition Details: The original illustrated vintage dust jacket shows highly attractive visual assets, exhibiting only very limited, superficial signs of edge-wear and faint shelf-rubbing consistent with careful private storage. The entire jacket has been carefully encased inside a professional, removable clear cellophane archival sleeve to protect it from environmental wear and shield it beautifully from future handling friction.
• The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
o Exterior / Boards: The original publisher's hardboards are in very good condition, keeping flat faces, crisp edges, and unbumped corner joints. The spine remains completely undamaged, unbent, and vertically straight, holding its original secure binding geometry.
o Interior: Pristine, intact, and clean. The internal pages and rich photographic sections are free of localized foxing, page-toning, or user thumb-soil. Free of any standard defects, including former owner name plates, gift inscriptions, library ink stamps, or dealer pencil annotations.
• The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
o Condition Details: The original illustrated vintage dust jacket shows highly attractive visual assets, exhibiting only very limited, superficial signs of edge-wear and faint shelf-rubbing consistent with careful private storage. The entire jacket has been carefully encased inside a professional, removable clear cellophane archival sleeve to protect it from environmental wear and shield it beautifully from future handling friction.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published in 1972 by the historic Hamlyn Publishing Group, The Life of the Elephant stands as a beautifully curated, historically significant fusion of mid-century wildlife photography and natural history literature. Written and photographed by the acclaimed photojournalist Bradley Smith alongside Jerry Cooke, this knowledgeable work serves as an intimate tribute to the unique and fascinating lifespan of the African elephant.
Published in 1972 by the historic Hamlyn Publishing Group, The Life of the Elephant stands as a beautifully curated, historically significant fusion of mid-century wildlife photography and natural history literature. Written and photographed by the acclaimed photojournalist Bradley Smith alongside Jerry Cooke, this knowledgeable work serves as an intimate tribute to the unique and fascinating lifespan of the African elephant.
The volume is divided into four major parts. Two extensive colour portfolios follow the lifecycle of the newborn elephant through childhood to maturity, capturing detailed moments of courtship, maternal bonds, and complex herd social structures. The remaining text chapters provide a dense scientific overview of the elephant's feeding habits, specialized sensory anatomy, and its enduring footprint throughout human history and global legend. Filled with vibrant wildlife photography, this out-of-print classic is a valuable addition to natural history libraries, conservation archives, and collectors of vintage zoological literature.
Author Profile: Bradley Smith
Bradley Smith (1910–1997) was an internationally distinguished American author, historian, and master photojournalist whose documentary portfolios helped shape the golden age of global visual publishing. Serving as a prominent contributor to elite platforms like Life, Time, and Sports Illustrated, Smith pioneered the technical application of high-fidelity color photography in difficult field environments. Over his illustrious career, he published more than twenty highly celebrated volumes—including his landmark History in Art series (Japan, Spain, and China) and a highly sought-after trilogy of animal biographies that included The Life of the Giraffe and The Life of the Hippopotamus. Celebrated by academic institutions for combining rigorous ethnographic research with breathtaking artistic imagery, Smith's publications remain highly prized by global bibliophiles and antiquarian art collectors alike.
Bradley Smith (1910–1997) was an internationally distinguished American author, historian, and master photojournalist whose documentary portfolios helped shape the golden age of global visual publishing. Serving as a prominent contributor to elite platforms like Life, Time, and Sports Illustrated, Smith pioneered the technical application of high-fidelity color photography in difficult field environments. Over his illustrious career, he published more than twenty highly celebrated volumes—including his landmark History in Art series (Japan, Spain, and China) and a highly sought-after trilogy of animal biographies that included The Life of the Giraffe and The Life of the Hippopotamus. Celebrated by academic institutions for combining rigorous ethnographic research with breathtaking artistic imagery, Smith's publications remain highly prized by global bibliophiles and antiquarian art collectors alike.
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