London, Linnean Society, 1879-1883. 20 parts in one. 8vo (21.5 x 13.8 cm). Several title pages; numerous text pages; several text figures. 20th-century brown cloth with gilt title on the spine.

In 1886, the large, 4to, Volume XLII of Challenger Expedition reports, titled Report on the Scaphopoda and Gastropoda collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873-76was published (Nissen ZBI, 4754). It is a lesser-known fact that its author, the Scottish reverend Robert Boog Watson (1823-1910) had already published many of the new species in the Journal of the Linnean Society, starting shortly after the return of the expedition. As he stated in the first contribution, "In the end of 1876 (Nov. 17) there were sent to me two large boxes of shells containing very many smaller ones ... and in the beginning of 1878 (Jan. 17) of additional material there came in to my hands 48 boxes, chiefly small, of shells, 131 bottles, large and small, and 45 tubes containing the shells with the animals preserved in spirit, and 36 bottles of miscellaneous dredgings, some dry, some in spirit" (p. 506). This is the complete series of 20 parts. All seem to be offprints, as those starting on an uneven page have the printing of preceding, unrelated papers removed; and those with the first page starting on an even page come with an additional title page. A weak, vertical fold, apparently from the method of posting, as several have the address of Watson added to the first (top) leaf. Hence this must have been his personal set. Small stamp of the American malacologist Richard Irwin Johnson (1925-2020) in the top margin of the front free endpaper recto and title page. Small repair to the first leaf fore margin; a few small spots, otherwise a very good, clean set. A unique copy of a rarely seen work. Cat. BM(NH), p. 2273.