Wien, privately published, 1809. 8vo (18.4 x 11.1 cm). Engraved title page, [xvi], 328 pp., 40 engraved and finely hand-coloured plates. Contemporary half calf over marbled boards. The spine with gilt vignettes, gilt patterned foot, red and green morocco labels the red one with gilt title. Patterned endpapers.

Part of a series, but the only volume dealing with amphibians and reptiles, including snakes and turtles, by the German dean, father and teacher, Gottlieb Tobias Wilhelm (1758-1811). The vast majority of the beautiful illustrations are well-coloured; a few are merely tinted in one or two colours. According to Nissen, this is the second edition, the first one having been published in Augsburg, in 1794. The Viennese edition was published from 1810 onwards, but this copy is dated 1809 and apparently published by Wilhelm himself during his lifetime. Boards a bit rubbed. A few small wormholes in the hinges, joints reinforced with cloth strip, but in a very nice contemporary binding. Old inscription on first blank. The text and plates very clean and complete. Adler III, pp. 50-51; Nissen ZBI, 4408.