FIRST EDITION 1827. 4to, approximately 335 x 255 mm, 13 x 10 inches, 53 HAND COLOURED PLATES OF SHELLS, most with several images, some with as many as 50, 2 page Preface and each plate faces 1 to 4 pages of description with the Latin names of each shell, where found and by whom if known, plus 5 page index at rear, bound in 19th century half morocco over damask effect cloth sides, gilt patterned roll dividing cloth and leather, spine with 4 raised bands with gilt decoration, gilt ruled panels inbetween, gilt lettering, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Binding rubbed at head of spine, on hinges and corners, dark brown cloth has a few dark stains and 4 tiny holes, edges of covers slightly worn, inner paper hinges cracked and front pastedown damaged next to inner hinge, a few small scrapes to front endpaper, light brown offsetting from a few plates onto text pages, a little faint browning to margins of some text pages, 2 tiny mid-brown spots on Plate 39, 1 partly on 1 image but blends well, pale damp stain affects fore-edge margin from the text page facing Plate 41 to the end of the volume (image 4), barely showing on plates except for very slight rippling to fore-edge on some, small pale damp stain in inner margin of text to plate 42, just faintly showing on inner edge of plate. Binding tight and firm. A good copy of the first edition (apart from damp staining which only affects the outer margin of text). Captain Thomas Brown (17851862) started life as an engraver, but when about 20 joined the Forfar and Kincardine Militia. Subsequently in 1838 he became curator of the Museum of the Manchester Natural History Society and remained there until he died in 1862. He published several books on conchology starting with The Elements of Conchology in 1816 and he wrote the article on the subject in the Encyclopedia Britannica of 1823. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE. FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.
