Leipzig, Wilhelm Engelmann, 1859. 8vo (25.0 x 18.0 cm). viii, 376 pp.; hand-coloured frontispiece and seven (partly) hand-coloured plates, two large, folded, tables, one large, folded, coloured map. 19th-century polished and grained half calf over marbled boards. Black morocco label with gilt title on the spine. Marbled endpapers.

Very rare publication by [Karl] Theodor von Hessling (1816-1899) on pearl producing bivalves in Bavaria (Germany) and economically important fresh water pearl mussel species and their pearls in particular, with fine illustrations of the shells. Well-illustrated. Provenance: stamp of the American malacologist Richard Irwin Johnson (1925-2020) in the top margin of the title page. Title page and some other pages spotted, mainly in the margins; plates a bit toned; closed tear in map, otherwise very good, the binding attractive and in a very good state. We found only two auction records after WWII. Cat. BM(NH) p. 837. Not in Nissen.