£17,500
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs | 589
Auction: 19 February 2020 at 10:00 GMT
or Coloured Figures and Descriptions of those Remains of Testaceous Animals or Shells which Have Been Preserved at Various Times and Depths in the Earth. London: for the Author, 1812-1829-[1846]. 7 volumes (with parts 1-8 of volume 7 bound as 1), first edition, 8vo, 650 hand-coloured engraved plates (including 33bis and 184bis, several folding), 10-page article relating to French edition printed in "Magazine of Natural History" (1839) bound in at end of volume 6, contemporary half morocco gilt, spines with 2 shell motifs repeated within raised bands, gilt edges, a few plates shaved within platemark (with part loss to numeral of plate 359), tear repaired to corner of pp.1-4 in volume 2, without title in volume 7 (not called for, as in Nissen), slightly rubbed [Nissen ZBI 3917]
Note: A Fine complete set, with the very rare unfinished seventh volume.
Provenance: John Durham Bird, 26 August 1877, ownership inscription above tipped-in receipt for £16.16.0 from Manchester bookseller Jas. E. Cornish, 12 May 1877, in volume 1; and thence by descent to the present owner.