The Invisible World Revealed by the Microscope; or, Thoughts on animalcules. New edn.

Half title ('Thoughts on Animalcules'), colour plates at end, I - XII, 7 lignographs in text, index. Orig. blue pebble-grained cloth over heavy bevelled boards, front board and spine gilt, back board blocked in blind; sl. dulled. Bookplate of the Merseyside Aquarium Society, No. 50, 'Presented by Mr A.V. Wilkinson.' a.e.g. A nice copy. This is the second edition, not in the BL. First published in 1846 as Thoughts on Animalcules. 'The object of this volume' writes Mantell in his preface, 'is to present a familiar exposition of the nature and habits of some of the invisible beings which people our lakes and streams; in the hope, that by placing the most interesting phenomena in a striking point of view, and describing them in language divested as much as possible of scientific terms, the subject may be rendered attractive to the general reader.' Gideon Algernon Mantell, 1790-1852, was a surgeon and geologist. Best known for his work in geology and palaeontology in his home county of Sussex, he became known as the 'Wizard of the Weald'.…