Torino, Reale Accademia delle Scienza di Torino, 1841. Two papers in one. Large 4to (28.8 x 22.0 cm). 11 pp. [8; 3]; eight [6; 2] delicately engraved and beautifully hand-coloured plates. Period-style marbled wrappers.

Two magnificently illustrated and scientifically important works by Chevallier Jean Baptiste - or Giovanni Battista - Vérany (1800-1865), arguably the leading authority on living cephalopods during most of the 19th century. Cephalopod studies only regained progress about a quarter century later, when William Hoyle and Louis Joubin became active. The plates are truly wonderful: rich in detail, accurate in colouring. Very rare. We have not had these works before. Fine, clean; with very wide margins. Caprotti 2, pp. 60-61 (224-225). Neither in Cat BM(NH), nor in Nissen.