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Catalogue of Genera and Species of Recent Shells, in the collection of C. B. Adams.
Middlebury, Vermont: Justus Cobb, printer, 1847. 8vo (8” x 5.25”), later plain white wrappers. [1–3], 4–32 pp. Stamp of noted conchologist Richard I. Johnson and duplicate stamp from the Clinch Library on title page. CONDITION: Very good, light wear, contents bright and clean. First edition. Adams issued this pamphlet not as a trade catalog or a scientific venture, but to encourage those who received it to trade shells with him in order to expand his collection: The design of this catalogue is simply to facilitate exchanges with correspondents. The author would be happy to exchange with any persons to whom it may be sent by himself or his friends. Species of North American, or European shells, which are not named in this catalogue, are particularly desired, and in return for them, any person who will forward a list of all the species herein named which are wanting in his collection, may expect and equal number of such species. The life of Charles B. Adams burnt short but brightly. Born in 1814, he graduated from Yale and held numerous prestigious titles before his early death at the age of thirty-nine. Adams taught at Andover Theological Seminary, was an assistant for the Natural History Survey of New York, professor of chemistry and natural history at Middlebury College, Vermont’s first State Geologist (1845–48), and professor of natural history and astronomy at Amherst College until his death in 1853. Most of his early work was as a geologist, but around 1844 he turned to conchology which remained his chief interest. He went on to name about 800 species of mollusks from Jamaica, Panama and the Eastern U.S.
Item #7415
Price: $450.00