Paris, J. Rothschild, [1858]. 4to (27.5 x 20.2 cm). 25 pp.; two finely hand-coloured lithographed plates. 20th-century quarter cloth over marbled boards. Spine with gilt title. Original printed wrappers and publisher's lists bound in.

Written by the French malacologist Chevallier A. C. Bernardi (d. 1863) about whom surprisingly little is known. He described himself as a painter, but his name is not in Bénézit. A presentation copy, inscribed by the author to Debeaux; probably the French botanist and malacologist Odon Debeaux (1826-1910), or his father, the archaeologist, naturalist and malacologist Étienne Debeaux (1793-1868). Provenance: the copy of the American malacologist and malaco-historian Richard Irwin Johnson (1925-2020), with his stamp in the top margin of the front wrapper. A few pencilled corrections; scattered foxing to the text leaves; only minimal, marginal spotting to the plates. A very good copy of a very rare work. Not in Nissen.