London, The Palaeontographical Society, 1865-1909. 4to (28.0 x 21.5 cm). Title page, 130 pp. [including index]; 36 tinted lithographed plates (several larger, folded). Disbound.

A rare, truly complete copy of this work by the British geologist, palaeontologist and malacologist John Phillips (1800-1874), famous for inventing the first universal geological time scale and establishing the Mesozoic period as different from the ill-defined Palaeozoic. His monograph on British belemnites is hist most important taxonomical work. The title, index, and a leaf with a review of the parts and their publishing dates, were not published until 39 years and eleven months after publication of the last main text pages and plates, and more than 35 years after the author's death. The work consists of the Society's separately published issues 74, 78, 88, 97, 102, and 311. Added is a preliminary title, dated 1865 (edges chipped). Some plates a bit foxed; otherwise in very good condition. Cat. BM(NH) p. 1568.