London, Willis and Sotheran, 1856. Large 8vo (24.5 x 15.5 cm). xx, 234 pp., 46 [numbered 1-38; Sup. 1-8] hand-coloured engraved plates. Contemporary half morocco over grained, double gilt-bordered cloth boards. Spine with four raised, gilt-lined bands; compartments with floral gilt corner pieces and gilt title. Top edge gilt.

The Index Testaceologicusis renowned for its small yet accurate illustrations of more than 2,500 (!) species, including several described as new. This hand-coloured copy of the final edition, edited by Sylvanus Hanley, is arguably the best edition. This is probably the last book on conchology following the Linnaean system. Hanley, however, did include a synopsis of the (modified) Lamarckian system. Each figure is numbered and has a printed letter to indicate its size. Provenance: armorial bookplate of Edgar J. Meynell "deus non reliquit memoriam humilium", mounted on the front pastedown. Slight rubbing to the edges; occasional marginalia (mainly tallying, several plate references) in light pencil; a small, pencilled leaf with a species list loosely inserted. Fore-edge uncut. Images bright. In all a very good copy. Nissen ZBI, 4459 and 1825c.