[Conchology] [Shells] The Young Conchologist's Book of Species. Univalves. Containing Descriptions of Six Hundred Species, and Illustrated by Many Figures

London: James Fraser, Regent Street, 1840. Original Cloth. Fine. Scarce First Edition of this field guide for the "youthful amateur in this pleasing science." Crown 8vo (194 x 124mm):viii,146,[2]pp, with tissue-guarded color lithograph frontispiece and 46 text woodcuts. Original blue cloth, paper label printed in black to front cover, pale pink end papers. An exceptional example (title label spotted), tightly bound and bright throughout. Reprinted in 1842 with a glossary of terms and index to the genera and their localities. Hanley "inherited a small fortune at an early age and devoted a lifetime to conchology. . . . After publishing The Young Conchologist's Book of Species in 1840, he edited a new edition of Swainson's Exotic Conchology in 1841, and in 1842 began his first important work on bivalves . . . But he is probably best known to systematists by his publication on the shells of Linnaeus." (Dance, A History of Shell Collecting, p. 183) Most of Hanley's extensive collection of shells is displayed in the Leeds City Museum, on the wooden tablets as he left it. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).