Paris, J. B. Baillière, 1820-1851. Folio (40.3 x 26.0 cm). 45 (early) chromolithographed plates.

From one of the most beautiful and influential works on non-marine molluscs, largely written by the French malacologist André Étienne Justin Pascal Joseph François Férussac d’Audebard [Baron de] (1786-1836) and illustrated by the best natural history artists of the early 19th century. This work shows the early use of chromolithography. Present are plates 1, 2, 28, 28A, 29A, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 53, 53A, 54B, 56, 56A, 56B, 57, 59, 60, 62A, 70, 71, 72, 73, 73A, 73B, 74, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 104, 105, and 118. Artists include many famous French natural history illustrators, including Huet, Bessa, Prévost, Blanchard, and Prêtre. Some scattered, mostly marginal foxing. Two plates with a weak, diagonal fold, otherwise very good. Nissen ZBI, 1348.