shell collecting & conchology

Yesterday’s Muse BooksSHELL COLLECTING &

CONCHOLOGY

To order or inquire, call 585-265-9295, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.websterbookstore.com

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1. Color Natural History Print Depicting Seashells Matted and framed color print. Frame 7 1/4 x 10 3/4, image 5 1/2 x 8 7/8. Matted and framed by The Great Frame Up in Rochester, NY. Acquired as part of a large collection of books and prints on seashell collecting and conchology, this most likely came from a 19th century volume. Along the top is printed ‘Dict. Univ. D’Hist. Nat., Mollusques, Pl. 19’, which indicates the volume was a French dictionary of natural history. Near fine.

$30

2. Five Color Natural History Prints Depicting Seashells from the Turbo Genus Five matted and framed color prints. Frames 8 5/8 x 11 3/8, images 5 7/8 x 8 1/4. Matted and framed by Summit Glass and Picture Frame Company on Aug. 1 1966. These were acquired as part of a large collection of books and prints on seashell collecting and conchology, and most likely came from a 19th century volume on

3. Seven Color Natural History Prints Depicting Numerous Varieties of Seashells Three 9 5/8 x 13 mattes, four 10 7/8 x 14 3/8, all seven with 5 5/8 x 9 1/8 image. Matted and wrapped inplastic by Marjon Print & Frame Shop in Hyannis, MA, with keys included on the back of three listingvarious species of shells (though two of these are mismatched). These were acquired as part of a largecollection of books and prints on seashell collecting and conchology, and most likely came from a 19thcentury folio on conchology, though we were unable to identify which work this might have been. Near fine.

conchology (they are labeled plates 9, 10, 21, 24, and 33), though we were unable to identify which work this might have been. Each print features shells from the Turbinidae genus, also known as turban snails or turbos. Very good. Each print faintly foxed.

$150

$250


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4. Seven Engraved Natural History Prints Depicting Numerous Varieties of Seashells Seven large engraved prints - 15 x 21, images 11 x 16 1/2. These were acquired as part of a large collection of books and prints on seashell collecting and conchology, and most likely came from a 19th century folio set of at least two volumes on conchology, though we were unable to identify which work this might have been. They are labeled ‘Tab. IV’, ‘Tab. IX’, ‘Tab. XII’, ‘2. Tom, Tab. I’, ‘2. Tom, Tab. III’, ‘2. Tom, Tab. IV’, ‘2. Tom, Tab. VIII’, with each illustration labeled ‘Fig. __’ and designated with an Arabic numeral. Near fine. Each plate includes tissue guard. No marks, stains, or foxing.

5. Abbott, R. TuckerAmerican SeashellsVan Nostrand, 1955. 5th printing. A guide to the shells of the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf shores of the United States and Canada, Central America, and the Islands of the Caribbean. Very good, good jacket. Jacket edges rubbed with tears and minor loss along corners.

$15

$175

SEVEN WORKS BY CONCHOLOGIST & MALACOLOGIST R. ABBOTT TUCKER, ONE OF THETWENTIETH CENTURY’S FOREMOST EXPERTS IN THE FIELD

$10

6. Abbott, R. TuckerHow to Collect Shells: A SymposiumAmerican Malacological Union, 1955. Very good. Lightly rubbed.

$7

7. Abbott, R. TuckerHow to Know the American Marine ShellsSignet, 1961. First paperback printing. A new guide to the most abundant and colorful shells of our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Good. Binding fragile.

$5$7 $5$3


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8. Abbott, R. TuckerKingdom of the SeashellRutledge, 1988. First edition. The first truly comprehensive survey of seashells, discussing shell biology, influ-ence upon art, medicine, religion, archaeology and commerce, practical aspects of shellfisheries, and aspects of shell collecting. Over 250 illustrations, 94 in full color. Near fine.9. Abbott, R. TuckerSchelpen van de WereldzeeenNatuurgids, 1963. Dutch-language guide to shells with hundreds of color illustrations. Near fine.10. Abbott, R. TuckerSea Shells of the World: A Guide to the Better-Known SpeciesGolden Press, 1962. As #9 above, but in the original English. Good. Wrappers toned, laminate peeling.

SPECIAL CATALOG-ONLY PRICE FOR ALL ABBOTT TITLES LISTED ABOVE: $35

11. Abbott, R. TuckerSeashells of the Northern HemisphereGallery Books, 1991. First edition. Species information includes size, characteristics, range, and habitat.Introduction discusses ecology, classification, field collecting & more. Near fine.

12. Adams, H.G.Beautiful Shells: Their Nature, Structure, and Uses Familiarly Explained, withDirections for Collecting, Cleaning, and Arranging Them in the Cabinet, andDescriptions of the Most Remarkable Species.London: Groombridge & Sons, 1887. First edition. [ii], 156 pp. 8vo. Eight color plates, engraved illustrations in text. Red cloth, gilt titles, black stamped borders & decora-tions, all edges gilt. An illustrated guide to collecting shells from univalves, bivalves, and multivalves, with information on arrangement and maintenance of shell collec-tions. Good. Lacks plate #6, other seven included. Edges of boards and margins of first and last few pages lightly stained, spine faded, a few pages lightly foxed, minor pencil notes on illustration pages.

$75

13. Aldrich, Bertha; Snyder, EthelFlorida Sea ShellsHoughton Mifflin, 1936. Detailed information and black & white photographs of the shells of Florida. Very good. Signed by Ethel Snyder.

$10

14. Allan, JoyceAustralian ShellsGeorgian House, 1962. Second edition. Shells common to seaanimals living near the Australian continent. Illustrated withcolor plates. Near fine in very good jacket. Jacket spine faded.

$15 15. Allan, JoyceCowry Shells of World SeasGeorgian House, 1956. First edition. A reference on cowry shells from all over the globe. Illustrated with color plates. Very good in fair jacket. Large chip from jacket corner.

$1516. Angeletti, SergioThe Seas and Their ShellsDoubleday, 1978. First edition. A collector’s guide to the seashells of the world with over 250 full-color illustrations. Very good. Jacket price clipped.

$7


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17. Arnold, Augusta FooteSea-Beach at Ebb-TideDover Publications, Inc., 1968. Reissue of 1901 original. A guide to the study of theseaweeds and the lower animal life found between tide-marks, with more than 600illustrations. Very good. Wrappers faded.

$5

18. Baker, Frank CollinsShells of Land and WaterA.W. Mumford, 1903. A familiar introduction to the study ofmollusks. Good. Former library copy, usual marks.

$15

19. Baker, Horace Burrington; Wurtz, Charles B.;Abbott, R. Tucker28-Volume Non-Continuous Run of Nautilus: The Pilsbry Quarterly Devoted to the Interests ofConchologistsPilsbry, 1963. Stapled bindings. Twenty-eight volumes $30

20. Bartsch, PaulThe Operculate Land Mollusks of the Family Annulariidae of the Island of Hispaniola and the Bahama ArchipelagoSmithsonian, 1946. A comprehensive overview of Annulariidae of Hispaniola and the Bahamas. Very good. All pages uncut. Corners faintly creased.

$25

of The Nautilus, with many articles on conchology and other related interests.Publication dates range from January 1963-October 1969. Very good.

21. Blue BacksJapanese-Language Seashell ReferenceBlue Backs. Seashell reference guide from Blue Backs publishing company. Full-color photographs, text in Japanese. Very good.

$5

22. Brown, ThomasIllustrations of the Recent Conchology of Great Britain andIreland, with the Description and Localities of All the Species,Marine, Land, and Fresh Water.London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1844. Second edition, greatlyenlarged. xiii, 144 pp. Two-column format. Folio. Red leatherspine & corners over red cloth boards, triple gilt rules, gilt titles. 62 color plates(confusingly numbered, with two Plate XVIIIs, two XXVIIs, and two XXXs, so that the final plate is numbered LIX instead of LXII). An enlarged edition of the original 1827 work, adding nearly 80 pages of text and 10 illustrations. A detailed guide toconchology written by a British naturalist and malacologist, who also edited Oliver

$350

Goldsmith’s Animated Nature, served as curator for the Manchester Museum, and was afellow of the Linnaean Society. Text divided into chapters on: Univalve TestaceousMollusca.; Conchifera; or Bivalves.; Cirripeda.; Annelides. Scarce inthe trade, with no copies currently available, and no auction recordssince 1967 - all other recorded copies appear to be held in institutionalcollections. Very good. Edges rubbed, minor pencil notes on a fewplates, minimal ink marginalia on only a couple pages, a few pageslightly foxed, ink name & date on verso of front free endpaper.

23. Buchsbaum, RalphAnimals Without BackbonesPenguin, 1957. Second edition. An overview of invertebrate life. Good. Some pencil underlining in text.

$5


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24. Burgess, C.M.The Living CowriesNew York: A.S. Barnes and Company, 1970. First edition. 389 pp. From the jacket: ‘Copiously illustrated in monochrome and color, the present volume is an invaluable guide for shell collectors, conchologists, and malacologists. Written in non-technical language, it is an exhaustive study which lists and describes every known species of cowrie. As well, there is a wealth of information on the habitats and characteristics of the animals that lived within these shells, together with interesting historical or other facts regarding the shell and its collection. The illustration of even tiny species have been enlarged so that no shell is pictured as much less than an inch in length, and there is little doubt of identification.’ Near fine. Jacket faintly toned.

$60

25. Cameron, RoderickShellsOctopus, 1972. Great information on shells with many color photographs. Very good. Jacket spine faded.

$5

26. Cernohorsky, Walter O.Marine Shells of the PacificPacific Publications, 1967. First edition. Detailed informationand black & white photographs of Pacific shells. Very good.Jacket price clipped, crease down front flap, top page ridge foxed.

$15

27. Clayton, J.M.All Color Book of SeashellsChartwell Books, 1989. Great information on shells with stunning color photographs. Very good.

$5

28. Collin, JonasOm Limfjordens Tidligere Og Nuvarende Marine Fauna, MedSarligt Hensyn Til BloddyrfaunaenKjobenhavn, 1884. Danish text on marine biology. Good.Wrappers toned, minor loss from spine head & foot, light stain tobase of plate page.

$30

29. Cox, Ian (editor)The Scallop: Studies Of A Shell and Its Influences OnHumankindShell Transport, 1957. Eight authors contribute to this study of scallops, with numerous color illustrations. Very good.

$7

30. Crouch, Edmund A.; [Lamarck, Jean-Baptiste]An Illustrated Introduction to Lamarck’s Conchology;Contained in His Histoire Naturelle des Animaux SansVertebres... Accompanied by Twenty-Two HighlyFinished Lithographic Plates...London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, & Green,Paternoster-Row and J. Mawe, No. 149, Strand., 1826. First edition. 47 pp. 16-page publisher catalog bound in preceding front free endpaper. Folio. Original printed paper over boards. Includes 22 color lithographic plates. Editions were released simultaneously with included the same lithographs in black & white, with the color version obviously being the more desirable of the two. Dance 71. Very good.Former college library copy, with only a few associated marks. Professionally re-backed. Boards rubbed & toned, ink gift note on front endpaper, lightly foxed.

$350


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31. Crowe, AndrewWhich Seashell?: Identify New Zealand’s Seashells - SimplyPenguin, 1999. A guide to all the seashells found in New Zealand, with full-colorphotographs. Fine.

$20

32. Da Costa, Emanuel MendesElements of Conchology: or, An Introduction to the Knowledgeof Shells. With Seven Plates, Containing Figures of EveryGenus of Shells.London: Benjamin White, 1776. First edition. [i]-viii, iii-vi, 318, [2]pp. Contemporary full calf, gilt titles & decorations. Sevenengraved fold-out plates, two fold-out tables. Dance 68. Very good. John Stackhouse armorial bookplate on front paste-down - Stackhouse was a British botanist (Catalogue of British and American Book-plates, p. 180). Pencil note on front free endpaper, single plate loose at binding but easily repaired, minor loss of gilt from spine titles.

$600

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ‘From his early years Mendes da Costa applied himself to the study of naturalhistory, particularly conchology and mineralogy. In 1740 he was noted as a member of the Aurelian Society, and six years later he was elected an extra regular member of the Spalding Society, at which time he was described as a merchant. In November 1747 he was elected FRS; his knowledge of minerals and fossils was highly praised. From the time of his election he began enriching the society’s Philosophical Transactions with many papers on his favourite subjects... On 16 January 1752 he was admitted a fellow of the Society ofAntiquaries; he was also a member of several other scientific associations. By the middle of the eighteenth century Mendes da Costa had gathered an extensive collection of shells, minerals, and fossils. He had also generated an impressive network of correspondents, who assisted him in obtaining further specimens. He gained an early reputation as one of the key fossil experts of his time, in contact with many celebratedEuropean naturalists; yet his life appeared to be a continual struggle with adversity. He was having financial problems by 1754, in which year he was imprisoned for debt and his cabinets held in bond; about this time he also ceased receiving financial support from his father. Upon his release in the following year hecontinued preparing his long-promised Natural History of Fossils. This work, first proposed in 1751, was intended to be issued in two volumes; however, only the first part of the first volume appeared in 1757.Nevertheless, his first work met with praise from eminent naturalists such as Carl Linnaeus, and by 1763 he had become a respected member of the scientific and antiquarian communities. Through the efforts ofsupporters, who included the antiquary William Stukeley and the naturalist Peter Collinson, Mendes da Costa was elected clerk of the Royal Society on 3 April 1763, following the death of Francis Hauksbee; he was also elected the society’s librarian, keeper of the repository, and housekeeper... He had been appointed for only five years when he was found to have obtained, for his own purposes, about £1500 of the society’s funds.Responsible for the collection of subscriptions as part of his duties, he had misappropriated more than ahundred members’ fees. He was summarily dismissed in December 1767, the family moved from Crane Court, and their possessions sold at auction. In May 1768 he was taken to court by the society, and inNovember that year he was committed to the king’s bench prison at St George’s Fields. Furthermore, he was expelled from the Society of Antiquaries, and his books and specimens—the purchase of which had led him to debt, fraud, and imprisonment—were sold at auction. Mendes da Costa remained in prison until 8 October 1772. While incarcerated he attempted to support himself by writing and lecturing on natural history, and in particular he gave a number of lecture series on fossils. He also revised and contributed additional notes to Gustav Engeström’s translation of Axel Cronstedt’s famous essay of 1758 on the new mineralogy (the English edition was published in 1770 as Essay towards a System of Mineralogy), and he carried out some translation work for the French edition of Dru Drury’s Illustrations of Natural History (1770–82). He was eventuallydischarged from prison under the Insolvent Act, and from then until his death he struggled to make aliving. In 1774 Mendes da Costa petitioned to be allowed to read a course of lectures on fossils to theUniversity of Oxford in the ensuing Trinity term; but his reputation preceded him, and permission wasperemptorily refused. In addition to giving some lectures in London, he also resumed authorship—with some success. He published Elements of Conchology, or, An Introduction to the Knowledge of Shells in 1776, which was followed by Historia naturalis testaceorum Britanniae, or, The British conchology, containing the …natural history of the shells of Great Britain and Ireland … in English and French in 1778. Of the


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33. Dance, S. PeterShell Collecting: An Illustrated HistoryUniversity of California Press, 1966. First edition. 343, [1] pp. 8vo. 3 color plates, 32 monochrome plates following text. An authoritative guide to shell collecting by anexpert in the field - S. Peter Dance worked in the Mollusca Section of the ZoologyDepartment at the British Museum of Natural History. In this volume he traces thehistory of shell collecting from Minoan times to modern day, and describes famous shells (including the ‘Glory of the Sea’), with four appendices, including one listingscientifically important collections and their locations. Very good. Jacket just beginning to delaminate along spine, top page ridge faintly foxed.

$45

34. Dance, S. PeterShells (Eyewitness Handbooks)DK / Dorling Kindersley Publishing, 1992. First edition. Over 500 species of Gastropod, Tusk Shells, Chitons, and Bivalves photographed and described as to superfamily, spe-cies, range, occurrence and size. Fine.

$2035. Dance, S. Peter; Abbott, R. TuckerRare ShellsUniversity of California Press, 1969. First edition. 128 pp. 24color plates. From the jacket: ‘A sequel to Mr. Dance’s ShellCollecting: An Illustrated History, this book discusses and illustrates some of the world’s rarest sea shells. Part I shows how the rarity cult began and how it gathered momentum throughout the nineteenth century; how and where rare shells have been gathered and how they have fared at auction. Part II discusses fifty rare shells, all of them being illustrated in colour. These shells have many points of interest apart from their beauty. Most represent species first collected well over a century ago but which

$45

subscribers for this latter work, no fewer than twenty-two were fellows of the Royal Society.’ - OxfordDictionary of National Biography

had not been found again until very recently. Some were found in deep water, others on tropical reefs - and one or two even in the stomachs of fishes... Careful attention to scientific accuracy, alively text and superb illustrations combine to make this book indispensable to thosewho collect and study shells, entertaining and revealing to those who, so far, do not.’Near fine. Jacket faintly toned.36. Demond, JoanMicronesian Reef-associated GastropodsPacific Science, 1957. A detailed report on gastropods of the Micronesian islands. Very good. Lightly rubbed.

$10

37. Evans, Eva KnoxThe Adventure Book of ShellsCapitol, 1960. Second edition. A book on shells for the youngreader. Very good in good jacket, Jacket edges rubbed.

$638. Feininger, Andreas; Emerson, William K.ShellsViking, 1972. First edition. Great information on shells with gorgeous color photographs. Near fine. An exceptional copy.

$30


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39. Forcart, LotharSchnecken und MuschelnHallwag, 1947. German-language guide to snails and mollusks. Very good.

$10

40. Golden Field GuideA Guide to Field Identification Seashells of North AmericaGolden Press, 1968. Full of color illustrations of common shells ofNorth America. Very good.

$5

41. Grau, GilbertPectinidae of the Eastern Pacific (Plates 1-57) (Allan Hancock Pacific Foundation Volume 23) [with] A New Chlamys from the South PacificUniversity of South California Press, Los Angeles, 1959. viii, 308 pp. 57 black & white plates, additional plate on rear leaf of

$25

42. Habe, TadashigeShells of the Western Pacific in Color, Vol. IIHoikusha, Osaka, 1964. First English-language edition. [viii], 233 pp. Tall 8vo. 66 full color plates illustrating 1457 different species of shells. The second in a two-volume set by Habe providing detailed information and photographs of numerous mollusc shells. Fine. Includes original jacket & publisher’s box. One edge of box label slightly faded, otherwise anexceptional copy.

$40

pamphlet featuring two images. A scientific study of pectinidae, the family ofbivalves better known as scallops. Very good. Single fold pamphlet laid in which includes an article taken from Nautilus, July 1960. Book and pamphlet both inscribed & signed by author - pamphlet without attribution, book ‘For Charles Allen’.Wrapper edges toned.

43. Harasewych, M.G.; Mortezsohn, FabioThe Book of Shells: A Life-Size Guide to Identifying and Classifying Six Hundred SeashellsThe University of Chicago Press, 2010. First edition. 655, [1] pp. Tall 8vo. ‘The Book of Shells offers a visually stunning and scientifically engaging guide to six hundred of the most intriguing mollusk shells, each chosen to convey the range of shapes and sizes that occur across a range of species. Each shell is reproduced here at its actual size, in full color, and is accompanied by an explanation of the shell’s range, distribution, abundance, habitat, and operculum—the piece that protects the mollusk when it’s in the shell. Brief scientific and historical accounts of each shell and related speciesinclude fun-filled facts and anecdotes that broaden its portrait.’

$35

44. Hecker, R.F.Bivalve Molluscs and Sedimentation ConditionsNauka, 1973. Russian-language text on bivalve molluscs. Fold-outs laid in. Very good.

$25

45. Howell, JohnNatural History: Catalogue 38John Howell Books, 1968. Rare and important works on natural history, many with color plates, including botany, conchology, entomology, gardening, mammalogy, ornithology, and scientific expedition. Very good. Lightly rubbed & toned.

$746. Howell, JohnNatural History: Catalogue 38As #45 above.


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47. Hoyt, MurrayJewels from the Ocean Deep: The Complete Guide to Shell CollectingPutnam, 1967. First edition. Tips on finding and identifying shells. Very good.

$7

48. Hubbell, Harriet WeedTreasures of the Shore: A Beachcomber’s BotanyChatham Conservation Foundation, 1964. 2nd printing. An informal study of Cape Cod’s seaside plants. Very good. Wrappers toned.

$549. Jacobson, Morris K.Shells of the New York City AreaArgonaut, 1961. First edition. This handbook for students, campers,nature lovers, collectors and scientists is the first shell book in over100 years devoted exclusively to the New York area. It describes over 140 species of shells, and each is illustrated within one page of its description. The book also features a map of the area, keyed to the principal collecting localities. Very good. Jacket spine faded.

$10 50. Keen, A. MyraMarine Molluscan Genera of Western North AmericaStanford, 1963. First edition. Detailed information on Mollusks and related species of western North America. Near fine in very good jacket. Review copy, slip laid in. Jacket lightly rubbed.

$7

51. Keen, A. MyraSea Shells of Tropical West AmericaStanford, 1958. 2nd printing. Information on marine mollusks from lower California to Columbia. Very good. Jacket spine faded.

$2052. Kiener, L.-C. [Louis Charles]; Fischer, P. [Paul]Species General et Iconographie des Coquilles Vivantes, Comprenant la collection du Museum d’Histoirenaturelle de Paris, La Collection Lamarck, Celle du

$4500

Prince Massena, (Appartenant maintenant a M. le baron BenjaminDelessert), et les Decouvertes Recentes des Voyageurs. - Incomplete Set, Seven Volumes: Famille des Ailees.; Famille des Canaliferes., Premiere,Deuxieme, & Troisieme Partie.; Famille des Purpuriferes., Premiere &Deuxieme Partie.; Famille des Turbinacees.Paris: Chez Rousseau, Libraire / J.-B. Bailliere, Libraire, 1873. First edition.Incomplete set of seven volumes. 8vo. Six volumes bound in half-leather - brownleather spines & corners, marbled boards, gilt titles. Fischer volume: navy blue leather spine, pebbled cloth boards with blind-stamped borders, gilt titles. French text. Fischer volume references a total of twelve.Volumes lacking here are: Famille des Enroulees (2 vols.); Famille des Columellaires; Famille des Plicacees; Famille Des Myaires. Includes 453 hand-colored plates (of the 902 total called for in the set). Despite listing the generas of turbo and troque on the title page, the Fischer volume does not appear to include treatments of these, or the associated plates called for (44 total).

‘In the Delessert collection and that of the Natural History Museum of Paris Kiener had available the largest and most varied fund of conchological material on the continent. He soon put it to good use; and in 1834 he published the first part of his Species general et iconographie des coquillesvivantes (153). This exquisitely illustrated iconography, started before the Sowerbys and Reeve began to issue


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53. Kira, TetsuakiColoured Illustrations of the Shells of Japan: Enlarged & Revised EditionHoikusha, Osaka, 1961. Enlarged & revised edition. vii, [2], 239, [7] pp. 8vo. 71 color plates, black & white illustrations in text. Japanese text, though scientific names are given, and have their own index following text. Near fine in very good jacket. Includes publisher’s slipcase and original jacket. Jacket spine faded.

$25

54. Langer, Torben W.Snegle Og MuslingerJ. Fr. Clausens Forlag, 1963. Dutch-language guide to snails. Very good.

$10

55. Larsen, May & HenryThe Golden Cowrie: New Caledonia - Its People and PlacesOliver and Boyd, 1961. First edition. Color and black & white photographs. Set in the South Sea island of New Caledonia this is the story of an expedition of the fabulous shell known as the golden cowrie. However, as the authors

theirs, appeared at intervals up to 1879, when eleven volumes had been completed. All devoted to theillustration of marine gastropods with the exception of the tenth volume, which includes a monograph on the bivalve genus Thracia. The eleventh volume is the work of Paul Fischer (1835-1893). All the illustrations are by celebrated French engravers and artists of the day...’ (Dance, Shell Collecting: An Illustrated History, p. 178). Dance 153.

Good. Edges rubbed with some loss and drying of leather, spines faded, bookplates of Thomas B. Wilson and Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia on front endpaper of each volume, foxed throughout though more lightly on plate pages than text.

$15came to enter into the everyday life of the native villages their interest in the principal object of the expedition became submerged in a wider study of this fascinating island which, with its vivid green, fringed by dazzling sands set in the deep blue of a lagoon, has been called the Island of Light. Very good.

$60

56. Marsh, J.A.Cone Shells of the WorldThe Jacaranda Press, Brisbane, 1964. First edition. 166 pp. 22 color plates illustrating nearly 500 species, 20 from watercolors by O.H. Rippingale and 2 from photographs taken by Dr. D.F. McMichael of specimens in the British Museum collection. A guide to cone shells, a popular family of shells among collectors, which explains how tocollect, clean, and preserve them, with information on the keeping of data andarrangement of shell collections. Near fine in very good jacket. 1 inch closed tear to top jacket corner, jacket lightly rubbed.57. Mawe, JohnThe Linnaean System of Conchology, Describing the Orders, Genera, and Species of Shells, Arranged into Divisions and

$350

Families: with a View to Facilitate the Student’s Attainment of the Science.London: Printed for and Sold by the Author / Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row., 1823. First edition. xv, 207 pp. 8vo. Contemporary full diced calf, brown morocco spine label, gilt titles, gilt triple rule & decorations, gilt dentelles on turn-ins, blind-stamped diamond pattern on boards, marbled page ridges &endpapers. Lithographed hand-colored frontispiece, 36 hand-colored plates. A‘description of the frontispiece’ preceding the table of contents states that ‘These [seven] Shells are supposed not to be figured in any former work on Conchology.’ The author


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58. Melvin, A. GordonSea Shells of the World (With Values)Tuttle, 1969. First edition. Classic work for shell collectors, with color and black & white plates for over 1,100 shells and exact descriptions. Near fine.

$7

59. Morris, Percy A.A Field Guide to Shells of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the West Indies (3rd Edition) (Peterson Field Guide Series)Houghton Mifflin Company, 1973. Third edition. ‘1035 species and subspecies of shells are found in the guide, and all but 2 of these are illustrated in a separate section containing 76 plates.’ Very good.

$560. Morton, J.E.Molluscs: An Introduction to their Form and FunctionsHarper, 1960. First paperback printing. An accurate summary ofwhat is known concerning the ways, habits and mode of life ofmolluscs. Very good. Spine & top edge faded.

$5

was most well-known as a mineralogist - a career which earned him membership in the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall - but he also wrote two works on shells and shell collecting (this and the 1821 work The Voyager’s Companion or Shell-Collector’s Pilot), and edited the 1822 second edition of Wodarch’sIntroduction to Conchology. ‘The fullest and most entertaining shell-collector’s guide was published by John Mawe (1764-1829), of Linnaean conchology fame... Mawe opened a shop at 149, The Strand, London, became a dealer in natural objects and wrote several books on mineralogy, conchology and allied sciences. Shells formed a large and lucrative part of his stock-in-trade and, over the years, he and his wife handled numerous valuable collections.’ (Shell Collecting: An Illustrated History, p. 127) (Dance 196) Very good. Spine faded, boards lightly rubbed, tissue guards lightly foxed, one plate loosening at binding, ink name & date on front flyleaf.

61. Moulding, Mary BakerShells at Our Feet: An Introduction to Shelling in the BahamasSea Scapers, 1967. First edition. A guide to all the notable shells of the Bahamas. Very good. Boards toned.

$2062. Nilsson, LennartLife in the SeaBasic Books, 1964. Beautiful photographs and informative text cover the major forms of sea-life. Very good in good jacket. Jacket edges rubbed with a few small tears to corners.

$863. O’Mara, ManiShells: Shelling along the Florida, Gulf and South Atlantic CoastsSunrise, 1956. 38 pp. Pictures of over 400 specimens and where to find them. Very good. Numerous related articles laid in. Edges lightly rubbed. $5

$5

64. Parker, Bertha MorrisPebbles and Sea ShellsHarper & Row, 1962. A children’s guide to pebbles and shells found on the beach. Edges lightly rubbed.


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65. Powell, A.W.B.Shells of New ZealandWhitcombe, 1967. Fourth edition. Color frontispiece and black & white plates accompany detailed information on the shells of New Zealand. Very good. Spine faded and lightly creased.

$10

66. Ricketts, Edward F.; Calvin, Jack; Hedgpeth, Joel W.; Steinbeck,JohnBetween Pacific Tides: An Account of the Habits and Habitats ofSome Five Hundred of the Common, Conspicuous SeashoreInvertebrates of the Pacific Coast between Sitka, Alaska, andNorthern MexicoStanford University Press, 1962. Third edition, revised, 1966 printing. xiii, 516 pp. 8vo. One of the great works of marine biology, first published in 1939. The famous American author John Steinbeck contributed a foreword to the second edition in 1948, whichappears here in its original form. Two revisions of the third edition exist, the firstreleased in 1952, and a further revised edition released in 1962 (the version offered

$25

67. Rimmer, RichardThe Land and Freshwater Shells of the British Isles. With Illustrations of All theSpecies.London: David Bogue, 1880. First edition. xxxii, 208, 32 pp. 11 plates. An illustrated regional guide to the collection and identification of various seashells. ‘Mr Rimmer is a distinguished authority and author in the department of conchology, and possesses a magnificent cabinet of British shells.’ (Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Transactions II/06 p.268 7th June, 1890: Field Meeting to Terregles, Holywood and Dalawoodie.). Very good. Hinges just starting, ink name & date (‘C. Hubert Waddell, Jan. 1882’) on title page.

$25

here). Maps, diagrams, and photographs throughout. Near fine. Jacket spine slightly faded.

68. Robert, Paul A.; Richard, JulesMerveilles de la Mer Coquillages: Reproductions d’Aquarelles - 15 Planches (Souvenir du Musee Oceanographique de Monaco)Editions Iris, 1936. First edition. 4 pp. Grey French wrappers over stiff cardstock backing, navy blue title & border, color illustrations mounted on front panel. 15 color plates reproduced from watercolors by Paul A. Roberts, with an introduction by Jules Richard. French text. Very good. Wrappers lightly toned.

$120

69. Rogers, Julie EllenThe Shell Book: A Popular Guide to a Knowledge of the Families of Living

$30

Mollusks, and an Aid to the Identification of Shells Native and ForeignNew York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1908. First edition. xxi, 485 pp. 4to. Beige cloth, gilt titles. Includes 8 color plates and 96 black & white plates from

$10

photographs by A.R. Dugmore. An illustrated guide to mollusks and their shells. Good. Spine toned, hingesrepaired, light stain along base.

70. Solem, G. AlanThe Shell Makers: Introducing MollusksJohn Wiley & Sons, 1974. First edition. An introduction to mollusks and their probable pattern of evolution. Very good.


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71. Stix, Hugh & Marguerite; Abbott, R. TuckerThe Shell: Five Hundred Million Years of Inspired DesignHarry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, 1968. First edition. 203 illustrations, including 82 tipped in plates in full color, as well as several fold-outs. Near fine in very good jacket. Jacket spine lightly toned, related news articles laid in.

72. Swainson, William; Hanley, Sylvanus; Abbott, R. TuckerExotic Conchology; or Figures andDescriptions of Rare, Beautiful, or

73. Tinker, Spencer WilkiePacific Sea ShellsTuttle, 1958. 2nd printing. A guide to Pacific shells with black & white photographs. Very good.

$7

74. Vilas, C.N.Florida Marine Shells: A Guide for Collectors of Shells of the Southeastern Atlantic Coast and Gulf CoastTuttle, 1970. New and enlarged edition. Near fine. Jacket spine slightly faded, jacket flap corner clipped.

$10

75. Wagner, Robert J.L.Van Nostrand’s Standard Catalog of ShellsD. Van Nostrand Company, 1967. Second edition. A price guide to common and rare shells. Very good. Wrappers lightly toned.

$5

$45Undescribed Shells, Drawn on Stone from the Most Select Specimens; the Descriptions Systematically Arranged on the Principles of the Natural System (Delaware Museum of Natural History Reproduction Series, No. 1)D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 1968. Limited edition. xxiv, 168 pp. Facsimile reissue. One of 2000 copies. Includes the text of the 1821-1822 edition, as well asa reproduction of Sylvanus Hanley’s 1841 second edition, with a preface and a

$15

modern explanation of the plates by R. Tucker Abbott, along with a brief index. Dance 284. Near fine. Includes onion-skin jacket. An exceptional copy.

76. Wagner, Robert J.L.Van Nostrand’s Standard Catalog of ShellsD. Van Nostrand Company, 1964. First paperback edition. A price guide to common and rare shells. Very good. Lightly rubbed & toned.

$5

$10

77. Ward’s Natural Science EstablishmentCatalogue of Specimens of MolluscaWard’s Natural Science Establishment, 1920. Catalogue No. 25 fromWard’s Natural Science Establishment, covering molluscs.

Ward’s was founded in 1862, and originally supplied taxidermy equipmentand small preselected museum collections of natural history materials. Some of their products were purchased in the late 19th and early 20th century by the CarnegieMuseum of Natural History. Good. Binding repaired, minor loss from spine head & foot.


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78. Warmke, Germaine L.Caribbean SeashellsLivingston, 1961. 2nd printing. A guide to the marine mollusks of Puerto Rico and other West Indian islands, Bermuda, and the Lower Florida Keys. Very good. Jacket edges rubbed.

$10

79. Weaver, Clifton S.; du Pont, John E.The Living VolutesDelaware Museum of Natural History , 1970. First edition. xv, 375, 79 colored plates, 44 text-figures, and 13 maps. Volutes, or molluscs of the family Volutidae, are predatory sea snails with spiral-shaped shells. Near fine.

$25

80. Webb, Walter FreemanForeign Land ShellsWalter Freeman Webb , 1948. First edition. 183 pp. 8vo. 73 plates. Near fine in very good jacket. Jacket lightly rubbed.

$30

81. Webb, Walter FreemanHandbook for Shell CollectorsLee Publications, 1960. Revised edition. Detailed guide tocollecting shells from all over the world. Very good. Jacket toned.

$10

82. Webb, Walter FreemanUnited States MolluscaWalter Freeman Webb, 1942. A descriptive manual of many of the marine, land, and fresh water shells of North America and north of Mexico. Near fine in very good jacket. Jacket lightly rubbed.

$25

83. Wood, W. [William]Index Testaceologicus; or A Catalogue of Shells, British and Foreign, Arranged According to the Linnaean System; with the Latin and English Names, References to Authors, and Places Where Found. Illustrated with 2300 Figures.

$350

London: Printed for and Sold by the Author / Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row., 1828. Second edition, corrected and revised. xxii, [2], 212, [2] pp. 8vo. Dance 331. Extensive illustrated guide to shells and conchology by an English surgeon, zoologist, and entomologist whose works of natural history focused onmollusks. Originally published in 1818, with a correct and revised edition (offered here)

released in 1828, and a further revised version completed by Sylvanus Hanley in 1856. Very good. Spinefaded, mottled discoloration of boards, J. [Joseph] Warner Henley armorial bookplate on front endpaper (Henley was a British politician), ink name on title page.

$30

84. Zeigler, Rowland F.Olive Shells of the WorldRochester Polychrome Press, Inc., 1969. First edition. 96 pp. From the jacket: ‘This volume, the first comprehensive and fully illustrated work on the Genus Oliva,represents the long time efforts of two dedicated amateur conchologists tocontribute something that would generate some interest in this hitherto neglected group of seashells, as they felt the current lack of adequate information and good illustrations has been largely responsible for this situation... the authors were able to illustrate every species listed in the text except O. aniomina Duclos 1835 and every form listed except O. pintamella Duclos 1835. In this volume, all specimens have been illustrated in full color and actual size and are grouped in the text according to locale, which will greatly facilitate proper identification. Collectors will also find the Index of


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85. Zim, Herbert S.Seashores: A Guide to Shells, Sea Plants, Shore Birds, and Other Natural Features of American CoastsGolden Press, 1955. A guide to shells, sea plants, shore birds, and other natural features of American coasts. Includes illustrations of 475 marine subjects in full color. Very good. Lightly rubbed.

$3

Species, Forms and Synonyms of tremendous help in this regard... Although this book was designedprimarily with the amateur collector in mind, it is the hope of the authors that shell dealers will also refer to it when making up their price lists, thus helping to eliminate some of the confusion resulting from the many discrepancies that have occurred in the past.’ Very good. Jacket corners lightly rubbed, publisher sticker on front endpaper.

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Conchologists, those people who study and collect shells, almost always study their animal makers as well -- their anatomy, their life history and their habitats. Collecting and studying shells and their makers, the mollusks, is one of the oldest natural history pursuits of man, dating back to the Romans and before -- indeed, a shell collection was preserved in the ruins of Pompeii. Aristotle, and then Pliny the Elder were among the first naturalists to write about shells and their peculiar anatomies; in fact it was Aristotle who coined the name ‘Mollusca,’ meaning ‘soft-bodied.’ -- Conchologists of America, Inc.

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