Descripción

Paris, Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, 1851. Large 4to (30.3 x 24.0 cm). 488 pp.; 20 mounted photographs. 19th century half calf over marbled boards. Spine with gilt title. Marbled endpapers. Disbound. = A large and important taxonomical paper, dealing with coral systematics and fossil corals of which many are described as new and beautifully illustrated. However, these are not the original engraved plates, but very old (ca. 1865-1880) photos, carefully mounted on text leaf matching boards. Published in the Muséum's Archives, volume 5. Tiny stamp on the title page verso. A large but rather weak circular waterstain starting at page 201, smaller damp-stains in the lower inner and outer corner, the latter only in the first 50 pp and not reaching the text. The photo plates a bit wavy, otherwise good. Very rare. Nissen ZBI, 4560.