Beautiful shells: their nature, structure, and uses familarly explained; with directions for collecting, cleaning, and arranging them in the cabinet; descriptions of the most remarkable species, and of the creatures which inhabit them; and explanations of the meanings of their scientific names, and of the terms used in conchology. Illustrated with numerous engravings & coloured plates.

London, Groombridge and Sons, 1855. Small 8vo (17.5 x 12.4 cm). 76, [ii] pp.; eight engraved and originally hand-coloured plates. Original blind-stamped green cloth with gilt title and gilt ornaments on the spine, and gilt title on the front board. A well-preserved copy of the first edition of a handsome introduction to conchology, by the British chemist, naturalist and writer Henry Gardiner Adams (c.1811-1881). Blind-stamped on both boards is the title addition Young naturalist's library. Both the engravings on the plates and those in the text are printed in reverse, thus with all the gastropods left-handed. The work was reprinted at least four times (1856, 1871, 1887, 1903), but this is the seldom-seen true first edition. Remnants of a bookplate on the front pastedown; bookseller's blindstamp in the top margin of the front free endpaper, a few spots but generally in a very good condition. Not in Nissen, who only records the author's similar publication on butterflies. Not in Nissen.