Paris, [the authors], 1904-1913. Folio (32.0 x 25.0 cm). 36 [12 (i); (ii) 21] pp., 110 [45; 65] plates with explanatory text leaves. Uniform red buckram with gilt title on the spines. Original printed wrappers bound in.

Very rare complete set with, bound in, the original wrappers of this famous atlas of Eocene molluscs (and brachiopods) from the Paris Basin. Mainly from Lutetian, Bartonian and Cuisian stages, these faunas are known to be extremely rich and well preserved. A few species are introduced here as valid names, particularly in the last plate of Volume 1, "supplément". Around 1900, the French palaeontologist and malacologist [Alexandre Édouard] Maurice Cossmann (1850-1924), who never used his first two names, was the leading expert on Eocene Mollusca. He had an enormous amount of material at his disposal and the quality of the photographed specimens is, therefore, often the best possible. Little is known about Georges [Henri] Pissarro (1871-1839) - not to be confused with Camille Pissarro's son Georges, who was born in the same year but died in 1961. Pissarro was responsible for the fine photographs. He is not otherwise known as a malacologist. Plate 16 of Part II bound upside down, otherwise a flawless, clean set. Very uncommon, especially in this superior condition. Cat. BM(NH) Suppl. A-I, p. 235. Not in Nissen ZBI.