Lot 308: GEORGE PERRY

Conchology, or the Natural History of Shells: containing a new arrangement of the genera and species. London: W. Bulmer for William Miller, [1810]-1811 [text watermarked 1818; plates, 1820-1821]. 2o (420 x 258mm.). 61 hand-coloured aquatint plates by John Clarke after the author, each with accompanying leaf of description. (Lacking half title, occasional light scattered spotting). Contemporary blue straight-grained morocco, covers with elaborate repeated anthemion and foliate gilt rolls, spine in seven panels, lettered in one (rebacked, original backstrip laid down, corners repaired, lightly rubbed with loss of gilt on lower cover), g.e. Provenance : Walter Longueville Gladstone (armorial bookplate dated 1893 and ink signature on title dated 29th April 1899). FIRST EDITION. A classic work on conchology and the only book on shells to be illustrated with aquatints. The work led to a rift between Perry and his fellow conchologist George Sowerby the elder (1788-1854), who had accused him of 'fantastical conchology' and questioned Perry's classification of a number of species. Brunet IV, 516: "Ouvrage bien imprim‚..."; Freeman 2972; Nissen BBI 3134 (noting copies with watermarks dated between 1808 and 1836).