Conchology.- Gualtieri (Nicolas) Index Testarum Conchyliorum, first

Conchology.- Gualtieri (Nicolas) Index Testarum Conchyliorum, first edition, engraved allegorical frontispiece, portrait, 110 numbered full-page plates, 17 vignettes on section titles, and 18 other vignettes and plates in text, 2 initials, main title and section titles in red and black, 1 or 2 short marginal tears, water-stain to outer margin of last few ff. and plates, some plates inscribed in ink or pencil, bookseller's sticker, 19th-century half calf, richly gilt spine, splitting to joints, edges uncut, [Nissen ZBI 1736], folio, Florence, C. Albizzini, 1742. *** A fine large uncut copy of the first edition of this brilliant shell book. Gualtieri was a professor at the University of Pisa and physician to Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who was a keen collector of shells. Many of the shells are depicted standing on their apices. Both engraving and typography is exceptional. The vignettes show marine scenes and corals. The engravings are by P.A. Pazzi after drawings by Giuseppe Menabuoni (1708 - after 1745). Gualtieri's collection is extant and can be found in the Museo Storia Naturale in Pisa. Provenance: Many pages have a circular library stamp of Academie de Macon at the outer margin, not affecting the illustration.

Estimate:£2,000

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