Vintage Observer's Books Butterflies, Insects, Mosses and Grasses Set in Orange, Blue, Cream and Green

Most people walk straight past a clump of rushes or a mossy wall. The writers of these four vintage Observer's Pocket Books never did, and their enthusiasm still comes off the page. Grasses, Sedges and Rushes in tangerine, Butterflies in cornflower blue, Mosses and Liverworts in pale cream and Insects in fresh pea green make a set for the naturalist who prefers to look closely.

These titles come from the heart of the Observer's natural history run. Butterflies first appeared in 1938 as one of the original handful, and Grasses, Sedges and Rushes followed in 1942, in the middle of the war, when paper was rationed. Common Insects and Spiders arrived in 1953 and Mosses and Liverworts in 1955, the latter one of the more specialist subjects Warne ever tackled, which is exactly why botanists still seek it out. Each one is filled with colour plates and drawings, designed to be carried on a walk and consulted on the spot.

Each book measures roughly 14.5 x 9.5cm (5.75 x 3.75 inches). The soft spring colours suit a pale scheme, so try them on a white shelf beside a glass bottle of dried grasses, stacked under a pressed flower frame, or on a kitchen windowsill next to a pot of herbs. They make a lovely present for a gardener, a young nature lover or anyone who keeps a hand lens in their coat pocket.

All four are hardbacks in their original boards and come without dust jackets. There is light wear to the edges and corners and a little fading in places, and the pages are clean and readable. The photos show the set in detail, so please take a look.

Four books that will have you looking at the verge on your next walk with fresh eyes.