Cassel, Theodor Fischer, 1853. 4to (27.2 x 21.2 cm). vi, 74 pp.; ten finely hand-coloured lithographed plates (plate IV present twice, not counted twice). Red buckram with gilt title on the spine. Original rear wrapper, with a list of related works published by Theodor Fischer, bound in.

Rudolf Wilhelm Dunker (1809-1885) taught geology and mineralogy in Kassel and later at the University of Marburg. He amassed one of the largest private conchological collections in Germany. This was later bought by the Humboldt University in Berlin. Dunker mainly published in the Malakozoologische Blätter on terrestrial and marine molluscs from, chiefly, Japan and South America. He also wrote some monographs of the Neue Systematisches Conchylien-Cabinet which was started by Küster in 1837 and ended in 1920. This work (based on material collected by the medical doctor Georg Tams who travelled widely through what is now Angola) is the first contribution to the malacological fauna of southwest Africa - an area little explored conchologically in the many years to follow. Only from the mid-20th century were these coasts surveyed again. Not surprisingly nearly all taxa described by Dunker were new. Published in the series, Novitates Conchologicae, but not indicated as such (apparently also sold separately), and not specifically mentioned by Nissen. Two stamps, including one of the American malacologist Richard Irwin Johnson (1925-2020) in the top margin of the title. The fourth plate is present twice, with subtle differences in the hand-colouring. Binding with some clear smudges near the bottom, but not obtrusive. Small damp-stain to the lower margin of the first five leaves (diminishing); some foxing, mainly to the first plate, otherwise a very good, clean copy. In front, another work, in photocopy, is bound in. Caprotti II, p. [188]; Nissen ZBI, 1207.