Paris, J. B. Baillière, 1855. 4to (25.9 x 17.2 cm). 92 pp.; 54 lithographed plates, all but one in fine colour-printing. Contemporary red quarter calf over marbled boards, spine with four raised bands, gilt linings and text. Marbled flyleaves.

The rare coloured atlas, with explanations of the plates. Copies with plain plates are more common. Moquin-Tandon is regarded as the father of modern malacology. The plates do not only show shells and living animals, but also radulae, genitalia and nervous systems, providing a taxonomic accuracy matched by none of his contemporaries. The plates were printed by Rémond in his admirable but expensive full-colour printing technique, producing fine, detailed colouring that surpasses even the best hand-colouring in its realism and subtlety. Boards a bit rubbed at edges and corners; light, marginal water stains to lower edge of the title page, which is thus perhaps also a bit shorter than in other copies. The tissue guards are spotted, but plates all fine and bright, without foxing. In all a very good copy. Nissen ZBI, 2880.