Conchologia Iconica. Monograph of the genus Erato.

London, Lovell A. Reeve, 1865. 4to (28.0 x 22.0 cm). Title page and three hand-coloured lithographed plates with explanatory text leaves. Original "The Oast House, Brook, Ashford" pictorial wrappers. = Rare copy of the genus Erato (Triviidae) being a part of the Conchologia Iconica, started by Lovell Reeve in 1843 and finished (rather than completed) long after Reeve's death in 1865 by G. B. Sowerby, comprising 20 volumes in all. This monograph includes the description and illustration of species described by Reeve, or by others and not previously illustrated. Most of the descriptions in the Conchologia Iconica (of species and specimens) are based on material collected by the most famous shell collector of the 19th century, Hugh Cuming (1791-1865). ".Reeve had become acquainted with Cuming, and Reeve’s life was changed forever. . Their association was such as to encourage Reeve to begin the Conchologia Iconica in 1843 primarily for description of Cuming material. Many of the Part covers for the Iconica carry the wording “Illustrated chiefly from the Cumingian Collection" (Petit). The wrappers, with L. Reeve & Co.'s Kent address indicate that the hand colouring probably has been done at a later time, using original examples. A clean copy with the plates finely, accurately hand-coloured. Caprotti, p. 213; Nissen ZBI, 3331. Petit Zootaxa 1648, p. 30.