Esslingen, J. F. Schreiber, [1886]. Large 4to (32.1 x 22.1 cm). Half-title, two title pages, 121 pp. (74; 40, [7]); 41 chromolithographed plates (24; 18 [of which several double-sized]), finished by hand and heightened with gum arabic, and one plain plate (showing crystal structures). Contemporary brown grained and embossed cloth; spine with black and gilt ornaments and title; front board with chromolithographed pictorial title mounted. Bluish endpapers, blue edges.

An unusually fine copy of a beautifully illustrated work, originally written by Von Schubert, and in this edition - comprising mineralogy, geology and palaeontology - edited by the German mineralogist [Johann] Gustav Adolf Kenngott (1818-1897) and by his compatriot, the palaeontologist and zoologist Friedrich Rolle (1827-1887). Above is the stand-alone title. This work was also part of a series, with the alternate title: Naturgeschichte des Tier-, Pflanzen-, und Mineralreichs in kolorierten Bildern nebst erläuterndem Text für Schule und Haus. Dritte Abteilung: Naturgeschichte des Mineralreichs. In this copy, both titles are present. Provenance: on the front pastedown a mineralogical bookplate of the French mineralogist and professor at the École des Mines, Claude Jean Guy Guillemin (1923-1994), who was a co-founder of the International Mineralogical Association. Unusually well-preserved. Very rare in this superb condition. This book was meant for (teaching) children and lay persons, therefore the average copy shows many signs of use. Light foxing to titles, otherwise, a truly exceptionally excellent, clean copy. Not in any major bibliography.