An annotated catalogue of shells from the Hartman collection
This book presents a detailed catalog of the genus Partula as housed in the Carnegie Museum, focusing on the Hartman conchology collection. It draws on extensive notes, letters, and type material to map species, varieties, and relationships, with particular attention to the work of Garrett, Pease, and Hartman.
Framed by the history and methods of conchology, the volume explains how shells are organized on tablets, the kinds of labels and notes that accompany them, and how researchers compared specimens to published descriptions. It also documents important sources, uncertainties, and the careful distinctions scientists make when identifying Partula species across Pacific localities such as Moorea, Tahiti, Raiatea, and others. The book preserves the scholarly exchange that shaped the Hartman collection and the genus’s taxonomy.
What you’ll find inside:
- A catalog of Partula species and varieties, with type attributions and collection notes
- Insights into historical collecting practices, correspondence, and the collaboration among conchologists
- Localities, habitats, and the complexity of defining species in this group
- Explanations of how the Hartman collection was organized and used for study
Ideal for readers who enjoy malacology, museum catalogs, and the history of natural science, as well as researchers tracing Pacific island shells and the Partula genus.