Kiel [und Leipzig], Lipsius & Tischer, 1892-1926. Five volumes with all 12 published monographs (of 14 and an index, projected) in 61 published parts (50 projected), bound in 61. 4to (31.2 x 25.5 cm). Over 6,800 pp., about 491 mostly lithographed plates of which many tinted or finely coloured, and 44 coloured maps. Near uniform contemporary half calf (a few half cloth) over marbled boards [predominantly green, or yellow; one with blind boards]. Gilt title on the spines. = Rare original edition of one of the major 19th-century zoological expeditions, on board the German steamer "National", to the Atlantic Ocean (1889). It deals mainly with zoology, including Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Brachiopoda, Decapoda, Foraminifera, etc., etc., each group treated by renowned specialists. In the introduction part the expedition leader, coiner of the word "Plankton", and editor, Victor Hensen (1835-1924), wrote "Es wird beabsichtigt, das Werk in drei Jahren zu vollenden". In the end it took 35 years, not three, before the last issue was published. The ship travelled from Kiel in Baltic Sea westwards, north of the Hebrides to the southern tip of Greenland, then south past New Foundland to the Bahamas, then crossing the tropical Atlantic to the Cape Verdes and south to Ascension, back west again to the mouth of the Amazon, and north again to the Azores, the English Channel and back to Kiel. Because this was the first expedition entirely devoted to organisms floating or swimming in the open sea, many new discoveries were made and numerous new taxa were described. The Foraminifera part by Rhumbler is arguably the most beautifully illustrated work on these tiny organisms ever. The first volume contains the narrative of the voyage, which inludes ethnological, geographical and botanical observations and illustrations, some fine maps of the Azores, Bermuda, etc., and some chapters on non-marine life. The numbering of the work is complex. There are five parts, numbered I to V, but simultanously there is an alphabetical (capital) letter coding, A to O, corresponding with animal groups and other subjects, and often further subdivisions, also alphabetical, with undercast letters in Roman and/or Greek. Nevertheless, some volumes share the same code. A list of projected parts was included in the first volume. It consists of 50 parts in all. However, several parts were added later (e.g. the Brachiopoda), whereas others remained unpublished (most noticeable: the fish-part, the Oceanography-part, and the concluding index). In total, 61 parts were published, by chance here present in 61 bindings, because in one section (Thaliacea) three monographs are bound in one, and two other monographs (Polycistinen) were also combined, whereas three monographs (Cephalopoda, Tintinnodeen, and Foraminifera, Thalamophora, were bound in two). Also not projected, but published nevertheless, are the Ostracoda, and the "Polycladen". Apart from the three unpublished monographs already mentioned, also the sections III. L. b, g, and IV. M. b, d, e, and f remained unpublished, partly because of changes in the taxonomy of the groups involved. Volume I. A. has seven plates and maps, numbered I-VI, 8, not eight as carelessly stated in Nissen. The 1971 reprint by J. Cremer is much inferior, being uncoloured, and in a smaller format. Boards usually a bit rubbed, especially at the edges, some with more shelf wear, three volumes with the spine cover partly perished, one rear board detached. Erased, and in a few instances cut-out stamps on titles, and occasionally in text page margins, as well as on front free endpapers. Plates and text otherwise clean. On volume with the lower margin of a few leaves damaged. The thinnest volumes often have additional blank leaves bound in the rear. A very good, complete set of this very rare work. Nissen ZBI, 4624.
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