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The Natural History of British Shells
by Edward Donovan, F.L.S. (1768-1837)

London: Printed for the author, and for F. and C. Rivington, No 62, St. Paul's Church-yard
by Pye and Law, St. John's Square, Glerkenwall
1799-1803


Original hand-coloured engravings over 220 years old
Sheet size: approx. 5.5 x 9.25 inches

Detail from Plate 94—Strombus

Donovan produced this work in 60 parts over five years, with 180 hand-colored engravings based on his own drawings. A dedicated naturalist and collector, he opened his collections to the public in 1807 as the London Museum and Institute of Natural History. Having exhausted his wealth in his lifelong determination to expand his collections and publish his books (the profits of which were kept by the booksellers), Donovan was reduced to penury toward the end of his life.


COMMON SERPULA
PLATE 95
SERPULA VERMICULARIS
COMMON SERPULA [WORM SHELLS]
$119.95
SERPULA GRANULATA
PLATE 100
SERPULA GRANULATA
[WHIMBLE WORM]
$119.95
STRIATED PIDDOCK
PLATE 117
PHOLAS STRIATA
STRIATED PIDDOCK
SOME FOXING AND AGE-TONING
$119.95
OPEN BULLA OR BUBBLE
PLATE 117
BULLA APERTA OPEN BULLA OR BUBBLE
BULLA CYLINDRICA NARROW BULLA
SOME FOXING AND AGE-TONING
$119.95
UNEQUALLY-STRIATED TELLEN
PLATE 123
TELLINA INAEQUISTRIATA
UNEQUALLY-STRIATED TELLEN
SOME LIGHT FOXING AND AGE-TONING
$119.95
COMMON COCKLE
PLATE 124
ARDIUM EDULE COMMON COCKLE
CARDIUM RUSTICUM
[RED-NOSED COCKLE]
WHITISH CHAMBERED PAP-SHELL
PLATE 129
PATELLA ALBIDA
WHITISH CHAMBERED PAP-SHELL
SOME LIGHT FOXING AND AGE-TONING
$119.95
SAND SHELL
PLATE 133
SABELLA TUBIFORMIS
STRAIGHT TUBE SABELLA,
OR SAND SHELL
SOME LIGHT AGE-TONING
$119.95
THREE PLAITED VOLUTE
PLATE 138
VOLUTA TRIPLICATA
THREE PLAITED VOLUTE
SOME LIGHT AGE-TONING
$119.95
RUGGED MUSCLE [SIC] MUSSEL
PLATE 141
MYTILUS RUGOSUS
RUGGED MUSCLE [SIC] [MUSSEL]
SOME LIGHT AGE-TONING
$119.95
LAKE LIMPET
PLATE 147
PATELLA LACUSTRIS
LAKE LIMPET
AGE-TONED PAPER, SOFT HORIZONTAL CREASE IN CENTER
OBLONG FRESH WATER PATELLA, OR LIMPET
PLATE 150
PATELLA OBLONGA
OBLONG FRESH WATER PATELLA,
OR LIMPET
AGE-TONED PAPER, SOMEWHAT MOTTLED
$40
PELLUCID RAZOR SHELL
PLATE 153
SOLEN PELLUCIDUS
PELLUCID RAZOR SHELL
SOMEWHAT MOTTLED, AGE-TONED PAPER
$40
CONIC TROCHUS, OR TOP SHELL
PLATE 155
TROCHUS CONICUS
CONIC TROCHUS, OR TOP SHELL
TROCHUS CINEREUS
ASHEN TOP SHELL
AGE-TONED PAPER
$119.95
NOAH'S ARK SHELL
PLATE 158
SOLEN PELLUCIDUARCA NOAE
NOAH'S ARK SHELL
AGE-TONED PAPER, FOXING ON RIGHT SIDE
$40
SMOOTH VOLUTE
PLATE 165
VOLUTA LAEVIS
SMOOTH VOLUTE
SOMEWHAT MOTTLED, LIGHTLY AGE-TONED PAPER
MUD SNAIL
PLATE 168
HELIX PUTRIS
MUD SNAIL
$119.95
FASCIATED VENUS SHELL
PLATE 170
VENUS FASCIATA
FASCIATED VENUS SHELL
FOX MARK NEAR UPPER RIGHT SHELL
$119.95
HOOKED LIMPET
PLATE 171
PATELLA MILITARIS
HOOKED LIMPET
SLIGHTLY MOTTLED PAPER, ORIGINAL WATERCOLOUR 'SMEAR' TO LEFT OF LOWER FIGURE
$119.95
WHITE WREATH SHELL
PLATE 177
TURBO ALBUS
WHITE WREATH SHELL
SLIGHTLY MOTTLED PAPER, FAINT FOXING
$119.95

Antique Natural History Prints