Conchologia Systematica, or complete system of conchology: in which the Lepades and Conchiferous Mollusca are described and classified according to their natural organizationand habits.
Eur 12,000 / USD 12,600
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London, Longman, Brown, Green & Longman, 1841-1842. 2 volumes. 4to (275 x 210mm). pp. vi, 195; pp. (2), 337. With 1 folded table and 301 handcoloured engraved plates. Recent blue half morocco, spines with gilt lines and lettering.
Reeve's first major book, foreshadowing his great 'Conchologia Iconica'
This famous conchological work is in fact Reeve's first major book, foreshadowing his great 'Conchologia Iconica'. Its beautiful plates numbered 1-300 & 114*) depict over 1500 figures of shells, mostly by G.B.S. Sowerby, and are all beautifully handcoloured. The author was a pupil of Cuming, whose enormous collection of shells formed the basis of many of Reeve's publications. "Lovell Reeve is best known for his monumental 'Conchologia Systematica'? But his first substantial publication was 'Conchologia Systematica', a two-volume treatise describing and illustrating the principal groups of shells, its three hundred hand-coloured steel engravings being the work of George Brettingham Sowerby (2nd). The work had a limited scientific success but is still important because some species new to science were first described in it" (Dance & Heppell p. 72). Library stamp of Lewes Public Library on title-pages and verso, as well as a bookplate on inside cover. A scarce work.
Nissen ZBI, 3332.