An Essay towards a Natural History of the Corallines and other Marine Productions found on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland [with] The Natural History of many Curious & Uncommon Zoophytes, collected from various parts of the globe

London, printed for the author [&] Benjamin White and Son, 1755, 1786, First editions of each work. . contemporary full calf, gilt decorated, gilt title lettering on leather spine labels, joints cracked but firm, few leaves in volume II with light stain, scattered minor spotting, good plate impressions, endpaper bookplate of Edward Henry Scott, very good. 4to [27 x 21 cm]; 2 volumes, xvii, [x], 103 [i]; xii, 206 pp, 40 engraved plates, some folding, in volume I including frontis & plate of Cuff's aquatic microscope, 63 engraved plates in volume II (only 62 called for), some of the plates in vol I by Ehret. The two volumes are in matching bindings with volume 1 and 2 on spine although issued separately, each complete. The second volume was edited by Daniel Solander after Ellis had died. The first volume also has the description of a large Marine Polye taken near the north pole by the whale fishers in the summer of 1753. For the first volume see Freeman 1131: 'plate 38 absent in many, plate 39 in most copies'. Both are present here, plate 39 being the microscope plate, being the earliest depiction of Cuff's aquatic microscope (see Clay & Court, History of the Microscope, p66-68). 'In 1754 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and in the following year established his reputation as one of the most acute observers of his time by the publication of An Essay Towards a Natural History of the Corallines. . . . imperfectly comprehended by Linnaeus, he established the animal nature of this group of organisms'. Linnaeus described him as a 'bright star of natural history', and 'the main support of natural history in England'. Nissen 1281, 590. British Museum Cat. 523. Knight, Natural Science Books in English: 'Ellis's handsome volumes on corals and zoophytes'. Knight, Zoological Illustration p. 103: 'the classic work was done by John Ellis in his Essay towards a natural history of the Corallines, of 1755. . . he persuaded Ehret, the great botanical artist, to accompany him, there to draw from nature. . . The book duly contains delicate engravings from these drawings'. A picture of this book is available on request by email.