The Wonder Book of Pets And How To Keep Them

The Wonder Book of Pets and How to Keep Them

Edited by Harry Golding, Published circa 1930 / 1931

A charming and quietly eccentric volume from a time when the keeping of animals was equal parts affection, curiosity, and gentle instruction. The Wonder Book of Pets and How to Keep Them, edited by Harry Golding, belongs to that lost world of domestic education where care, patience, and observation mattered as much as rules.

Golding was a prolific British editor and writer, best known for assembling accessible, beautifully illustrated books that blended practical knowledge with wonder. His work often aimed to educate without dullness, encouraging younger readers to approach the natural world with curiosity and responsibility rather than mastery.

This particular copy carries a story of its own. At some point in its life it was acquired from the Renaissance Bookshop in Cairo, Egypt, a detail that adds an unexpected layer of international travel to what is otherwise an intimate, homely book. One imagines it passing through different hands, countries, and shelves before arriving here.

As with all genuine antiquarian books, this volume shows signs of age and use. There may be wear to the binding or pages, and it is entirely possible that previous owners have left annotations, notes, or markings in the margins. We see these not as flaws, but as quiet conversations across time.

This is not a pristine object sealed off from history. It is a lived-in book, rich with character, ideal for collectors, animal lovers, or anyone drawn to the poetry of old instructional texts.

Please note:

Each antiquarian book in the Ada & Vera Cabinet of Curiosities is unique. Condition will vary, and no two copies tell quite the same story.