London, Reeve, 1860. Two volumes in two. 4to (25.3 x 15.3 cm). Part I: vi, 260 pp.; Part II: vi, 203 pp.; 62 hand-coloured lithographed plates. Original uniform full, blind-stamped cloth with gilt title on the spines and gilt vignette on the front boards. Yellow endpapers.

A seldom-seen and beautifully illustrated shell book by the English conchologist and natural history publisher, Lovell Augustus Reeve (1814-1865), depicting 248 different shells. Some of the species described and illustrated here were new. First published in issues. When started in 1846, a different title, Initiamenta conchologica; or, elements of conchology, was used. A sales-leaflet for Reeve's Conchologia iconica bound in front. It lists all published volumes and single monographs up to 1860 and their prices. Numbering of the 62 plates is a bit peculiar, with in the first volume plates A-H, and 1-21; and in the second volume plates I-Q (J not used), and 22-31, XXXII-XXXVII, 38, and XXXIX-XLVI. Spines a bit sunned; tissue-guards rather spotted, the plates much less so. Otherwise very good, clean and unmarked. Caprotti II, p. 51 (215); Dance, A History of Shell Collecting, p. 140; Freeman, British Natural History Books 1495-1900. A handlist, 3152; Nissen ZBI, 3333.