Paris, Librairie Scientifique A. Hermann, 1906. 8vo (24.1 x 15.9 cm). 520 pp.; many plates, tables and figures, one large folded coloured geological map of Madagascar in end paper pocket. Contemporary half cloth over marbled boards. Spine with gilt title. Original printed front wrapper bound in. Marbled edges.

A rare, well-illustrated work - also published separately as his thesis - of the French geologist Paul Lemoine (1878-1940), based on his field work in 1902-1903. "Following the retirement of Stanislas-Étienne Meunier (1843-1925), he was appointed chair of geology at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (1920). From 1932 to 1936 he was director of the museum. In 1916 in collaboration with other scientists, he created the Société de Documentation Paléontologique" (Wikipedia). With a handwritten dedication by the author to "Monsieur Toula" [i.e the Austrian geologist mineralogist and paleontologist Franz Toula (1845-1920)] on the front wrapper. Small stamp in the top margins of the front free endpaper recto and front wrapper, a smaller stamp on the title page. Rear hinge starting, otherwise a very nice and clean copy.