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.
€ 1,500
Rare first and only edition of a monograph on fossils of coral polyps in France. Coral is made by millions of tiny invertebrate carnivorous animals called polyps. After their death hey leave behind a limestone deposit, which forms the foundation for a next polyp. Fossil reefs are preserved as limestone prominences of many different ages.
Michelin's extensive stratigraphical collection on Coelenterata is in the Paris Natural History Museum, and a number of these are figured in the present work.
Text leaves slightly browned, some spots to the plates and the binding rubbed along the extremities, otherwise in good condition. BMC NH, p. 1306; Nissen, ZBI 2812; Ward & Carozzi 1546.
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