When these stunning portraits first appeared, mankind was just starting the process of putting together plans to save other species. Alas, the age of Yuppie-ism had also just started, so while folks were worrying about nature, they were also busy buying the lifestyle that was destroying such fauna. Stermer's watercolours are simply fabulous, one-pagers which may end up as the best portraits for future generations of long-gone animals.

Stermer's artwork has always been valued for its preciseness, with defined lines and muted colours. Whether it's the Mexican Grizzly, the Great Auk, or the Southern Sea Otter, he brings out the characteristics of each subject with heartfelt accuracy. The only problem with this book is that it has become so rare, that I am limited to annual thumb-throughs, so as not to hurt the artwork. A true treasure from a true artist.

Book Season = Year-Round (don't let them pave more paradises) ( )