Paris, Dentu, 1863. 8vo (23.1 x 15.2 cm). Half title, title page with engraved vignette, 148 [4, 144] pp., 14 lithographed plates [numbered XXVII-XLI], all but one hand-coloured (as intended). Contemporary black half morocco over marbled boards. Spine with four raised bands and gilt title. Marbled endpapers, speckled edges.

Very uncommon (Junk cat. 278: "scarce") work published as part of L. Maillard's Notes sur l'Ile de la Réunion (hence the odd plate numbering), and usually found as "Extrait", as is this copy. Gérard Paul Deshayes (1796-1875) was one of the foremost French malacologists and many of his works are beautifully illustrated. This catalogue has the fine plates engraved by E. Levasseur, arguably one of the best engravers from this period. Many species described here were new. Provenance: inscribed and signed by the author, viz. a dedication to M. Le Merle or Mesle; perhaps the French palaeontologist Georges Le Mesle (1828-1895), correspondant of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle - where Deshayes worked - and with the stamp of the American malacologist Richard Irwin Johnson (1925-2020). Some light spotting, mainly to the first and last text leaves and first plate, more so to the plain last plate; otherwise a very good, clean and unmarked copy. Nissen ZBI, 2652 (under Maillard); Ryckebusch, 5445-5446.