Forum Rare Books

Second, much enlarged edition of the book that greatly encouraged the study of mollusks in the United States

GOULD, Augustus Addison. Report on the invertebrata of Massachusetts, published agreeably to an order of the legislature. Second edition, comprising the mollusca. Edited by W.G. Binney.
Boston, Wright and Potter, state printers, 1870. Large 8vo. With 12 full-page chromolithographed plates, numbered XVI-XXVII, containing figures 214-349, after the drawings by B.F. Nutting, Mary Peart, Fanny van Horn, S. Morse, J. Burckhardt, and Alex. Agassiz. Original publishers green buckram over thick boards. V, [2], 524 pp. Full description

€ 200

Shells & other Invertebrates

The shells of Beidaihe, China

GRABAU, Amadeus William and Sohtsu G. KING. Shells of Peitaiho.
Beijing, Peking Laboratory of Natural History, 1928. 8vo. With 11 plates with photographic reproductions. Contemporary red cloth. [1], [1 blank], VI, 279, [2], [1 blank], [1], [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 250

China Earth Sciences Fossils / Palaeontology Geology Shells & other Invertebrates

Mid-18th century scientific correspondence

[LIGNAC, Joseph Adrien Le Large de]. Lettres à un Amériquain sur l'histoire naturelle, générale et particuliere de monsieur de Buffon.
"Hambourg" [Paris?], 1751-1756. 9 volumes. 12mo. With woodcut initials, ornaments and decorative lettering. Contemporary uniform mottled calf, gold-tooled spines. [2], 127, [1], 50; [2], 66, [2], 66, [2]; [2], 31, [1], 96, 69, [1]; [2], 78, [2], 92; [2], 185, [1]; 238, [2]; [2], 238, [2]; [2], 258, [2]; [2], 276, [2] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Astronomy & Cosmography Earth Sciences Faunas & General Zoology Fossils / Palaeontology Instruments & Microscopy Science Shells & other Invertebrates

The first comprehensive work on Japanese marine shells, with 37 chromo-lithographed plates

LISCHKE, Carl Emil. Japanische Meeres-Conchylien.
Kassel, for Theodor Fischer (colophon: Elberfeld, by R.L. Friderichs & Comp.), 1869-1874. 3 volumes. 4to. With 37 chromo-lithographed plates. Contemporary blind- and gold-blocked cloth. [4], 192; [4], 184; 123, [1 blank] pp. Full description

€ 4,500

Faunas & General Zoology Japan & Far East Marine Biology & Oceanography Shells & other Invertebrates

Autograph letter from the New Zealand naturalist Thomson to fellow carcinologist
and renowned French zoologist Alphonse Milne-Edwards

[MANUSCRIPT LETTER - NEW ZEALAND]. THOMSON, George Malcolm. [Manuscript letter from George Malcolm Thomson to Alphonse Milne-Edwards].
High school, Dunedin, New Zealand, 30 August 1882. 20.5 x 12.5 cm. Written in a neat cursive in brown ink on laid paper made in Scotland watermarked "A Cowan & Sons Ivory". Folded. [2], [2 blank] pp. Full description

€ 1,750

Manuscripts & Documents New Zealand Shells & other Invertebrates

First Dutch translation of a popular description of sea plants and corals, with 52 hand-coloured plates

MARSIGLI, Luigi Ferdinando. Natuurkundige beschryving der zeën.
The Hague, De Compagnie, 1786. Folio. With an engraved frontispiece by Matthijs Pool, 12 mostly folding maps, profiles of coast-lines and tables, and 40 full-page engraved plates with numerous illustrations of sea plants and corals, all beautifully coloured by hand. Contemporary half calf, gold-tooled spine. XXVI, 216 pp. Full description

€ 7,500

Faunas & General Zoology Marine Biology & Oceanography Shells & other Invertebrates

Zoological work including unicorns and dragons, with 95 engraved plates

MERCKLEIN, Georg Abraham. Neu ausgefertigtes historisch-medicinisches Thier-Buch in vier besonderen Theilen verabfasset; ... Wobei verschiedene, wieder allerhand Kranckheiten bewehrte Geness-Mittel: angezeiget.
Nuremberg, Johan Friedrich Rüdiger, 1714. 8vo. With a double-page engraved frontispiece, engraved by Johan Lorentz Hönnig, a double-page letterpress title-page printed in red and black, and 95 engraved plates, each depicting several animals. Contemporary vellum. [26], 732, [72] pp. Full description

€ 3,500

Amphibians & Reptiles Birds - Ornithology Faunas & General Zoology Fishes Mammals Shells & other Invertebrates

Monograph on coral fossils in France, with 79 plates

MICHELIN, Jean Louis Hardouin. Iconographie zoophytologique, description par localités et terrains des polypiers fossiles de France et pays environnants.
Paris, P. Bertrand (back of title-page: printed by Fain & Thunot), 1840-1847. 4to. With 79 lithographed plates by Ludovic Michelin and Delarue fils. Contemporary half calf. XII, 348; [4] pp. Full description

€ 1,500

Earth Sciences Fossils / Palaeontology France Shells & other Invertebrates

A fantastic copy of this attractively illustrated work on molluscs, with 54 plates

MOQUIN-TANDON, Alfred. Histoire naturelle des mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles de France. Contenant des studes sur leur anatomie et leur physiologie et la description particulière des genres, des espèces et des variétés.
Paris, Bailliere, 1855. 2 text volumes and 1 atlas volume. Royal 8vo. With 54 engraved plates. Contemporary half calf. VIII, 416; 646; 92 pp. Full description

€ 875

France Shells & other Invertebrates

Account of a scientific expedition through Central America

MORELET, Arthur. Voyage dans l'Amérique centrale, l'île de Cuba et le Yucatan.
Paris, Gide & J. Baudry, 1857. 2 volumes. 8vo. With 2 pages of letterpress music, a folding lithographed map of Yucatan, Guatemala and Cuba, and 22 wood-engraved illustrations, after drawings by the author, heading each chapter. Original publisher's printed paper wrappers, preserved in modern chemises and slipcase. [4], 337, [3]; [4], 323, [3] pp. Full description