Gotha, Justus Perthes, 1849-1851. Eight volumes in six. Folio (36.8 x 24.5 cm). Each volume with two title pages (to the series, and to the work), text; 94 ‘plates’ overall [I: 15; II: 16; III: 15; IV: 5; V: 8; VI: 12; VII: 4; VIII: 19]. These are often double-sized and in full colour, usually with many maps, graphs, profiles, views, and other illustrations on one ‘plate’; the total number of separate figures may exceed one thousand. Original uniform half cloth over pictorial boards. Gilt title on the spine. Paste-downs with printed text. Edges marbled.

Very rare complete set of this important atlas by the German geographer Heinrich Berghaus (1797-1884). The work, which is extremely rich in data, was published in eight volumes, viz. I. Meteorologie (quite important to the global warming debate for it allows direct comparison with the present situation); II. Hydrologie und Hydrographie (with, e.g. sea currents, and data on the flow rates of major European rivers); III. Geologie (from global, e.g. showing volcanic arches, to local geology, e.g. that of parts of Germany); IV. Tellurisch Magnetismus, combined with V. Pflanzengeographie; VI. Zoologische Geographie (zoogeography, also the vertical distributions over mountains); VII. Anthropogeographie, combined with VIII. Ethnographie (including the distribution of languages). Each "plate" is described on the front board of the part in which it was published, and extensively annotated in the corresponding text part. This series was supposed to form an illustration to Alexander von Humboldt’s Cosmos, but was never incorporated into that work. The facts presented here, however, lie very much at the foundations of Humboldt’s work. The title to the series states that this is the second, enlarged and improved edition, whereas the titles to the separate volumes do not. Scattered, mostly mild foxing, otherwise a superb and complete set. Cat. BM(NH), p. 142.