“Conchyliologie” [cover title], 4to (263 x 200mm), composed of 69 leaves of “Explication de la Planches,” interleaved with 80 leaves containing finely drawn pencil studies of over 2,470 species of mollusks, mostly keyed to the Explication sheets or captioned individually (in ink towards end). (Some toning to leaves, occasional minor spotting.) Bound in contemporary quarter morocco, gilt-lettered cloth. 

 

“Planches des especes dans Generie Helix,” small 4to (223 x 178mm), contains a manuscript title, 8 leaves containing finely drawn pencil studies of mollusks, the remainder blank leaves. With title-page signed and dated “Mars 1859.” Bound in cloth-backed blind-embossed boards (some edgewear). 

 

Manuscript notebooks containing remarkable examples of finely detailed and accurate drawings of mollusks. The larger collection of drawings cover the following genera: Helix, Plausilia, Cyclostoma, Paluvina, Hinima, Buhonius, Pupa, Sorgue, Natica, Curbo, Scalaria, Crochus, Bulla, Purpura, Monodonta, Rissoa, Buccinum, Cerithium Siamella, Planaxis, Colombella, Gurritella, Fusus, Triton and Casidaria. All the plates in both manuscripts have legend (“Explication”) pages or genus species captions in ink below individual drawings. The final drawing in the smaller notebook has an incomplete series of six drawings that demonstrate the technique used by Terver to achieve his fine results drawing mollusk shells.

 

Ange Paulin Terver was a French malacologist, and member of the Société linnéenne de Lyon. He was curator of its zoological collections from 1849 to 1872. In 1853 he became a member of the Société d'agriculture de Lyon, serving as secretary of the Commission des soies from 1853 to 1868.

His collection of terrestrial and freshwater snails were purchased by the city of Marseille (Musée de Marseille). His family donated his collection of 14000 coquilles to the Muséum de Lyon.

 

The larger manuscript was intended as the beginning part of a great work that included collaboration with Michaud cited by Terver in 1839, but was never published. Most of his unpublished drawings of identified species of mollusks were given to the Natural History Museum of Lyon. 

 

[With:] TERVER, Ange Paulin. Catalogue des Mollusques terrestres et fluviatiles, obervés dans les possessions françaises au nord de l’Afrique. Paris and Lyon, 1839. 8vo, sewn in contemporary marbled wrappers. 3 lithographed plates. (Some spotting.) FIRST EDITION.