GOSSE'S NATURAL HISTORY; MOLLUSCA.
P. H. Gosse.
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. London. 1854.
| "Mollusca" is the last, and with 94 very detailed
woodcuts (illustrations), considered best of a short series of books
published for young people. The first in the series, "Mammalia" was
published in 1848, followed by "Birds" in 1849, "Reptiles" in 1850 and
"Fishes" in 1851. The series was also intended as a manual to the British
Museum natural history collections, where most of the studying for the
text was completed. By the time he published Mollusca, much of the practical knowledge gained from his seaside visits, was included in the text. All of the books in the series, although not generally available, do occasionally come up for sale on the internet. Of these "Fishes", followed by "Mollusca" are deemed the most rare (although later editions are suspected). I can confirm that my own copy of "Fishes", from the date of the advertisements in the back, was released after 1859. I have not yet come across reviews for any of the books in this series. My copy of "Mollusca" is of 325 pages, of 100mm x 170mm. with simple index and no adverts, bound in red cloth board with gilt lettering, by S. Curtis, dated 1854. Bob Alexander. Nov. 05. |