Structure and classification of Zoophytes [Corals and their relatives], [&c.]. [First edition thus].

Philadelphia, royal quarto (12.5 by 9.75 inches), [7], 8-132 p. and 45 engraved figures in the text. ***CONTENT: James Dwight Dana (1813-1895) was trained in the earth and physical sciences at Yale, and according to Benjamin Silliman, one of his professors, "his attainments in geology, mineralogy and chemistry were of the most respectable character." [Gilman, p. 20]. At the young age of 26, Dana was employed as geologist and mineralogist for the U.S. Exploring Expedition ("Wilkes Expedition") to the Pacific, whose mandate was to explore the coasts and islands of the southern hemisphere. Among other interests, Dana became fascinated with the corals and coral islands encountered on the five-year voyage; on his return he prepared a 750-page text and accompanying folio atlas with 61 plates on the subject. The volume at hand is a reissue of portions of Dana's Wilkes Expedition report on Zoophytes, comprised of pages 7-120 of the Introduction to that report, as well as pages 709-720 of the Appendix. The text is printed on thick paper, from the type of the Government issue, with a new half-title and title page, and prefatory remark. The text is comprehensive, with the author's typical clear presentation and attention to detail. ***CONDITION: This copy is complete and VG+ and bound in recent black cloth with a gilt lettered backstrip. The covers are near pristine, indicating scant use, spine gilt bold and bright. Joints and hinges solid, binding firm. The text is mildly toned, as typical, but the pages are fresh, clean, and bright, as are the illustrations. Gilt library numbers on spine, bookplate on front pastedown, perforated stamps on the half-title and title page, and stamp on lower text block. I have seen only one other copy of this scarce work for sale; the stamped word "exceptional" appears on the verso of the title page, apparently added by the library. This is a sound, handsome copy of a very informative volume. Haskell 23. BMNH 418. Gilman, 1899, "Life of Dana". This very rare volume is not recorded in Nickles, Ward and Carozzi, or in Gilman's bibliography of Dana's writings. International shipping will be extra for this volume, but only at my cost.…