Author: Owen, R.
Title: Descriptive and illustrated catalogue of the fossil Reptilia of South Africa in the collection of the British Museum.
Description: London, The Trustees of the British Museum, 1876. Folio (32.5 x 25.2 cm). xii, 88 pp.; 70 fine lithographed plates, several larger, and folded. Original green pebbled and blind-tooled cloth. Gilt title on the spine. = One of the rarer of Richard Owen's works. Important monograph on the fossil reptiles of South Africa with all the fine plates. Included is a peculiar table of the fossiliferous strata of the earth, with names of the sections and their principle fossils, emphasising Vertebrata, and topped with an engraving of a church and some trees. Both the vertebrate bias and the Christian icon are very much Owen. The text leaves were issued in a shorter format than the plates and therefore they have been mounted and alternatingly placed against the top and bottom edge, as published. Skilful repair to spine ends. Small, weak blind-stamps in the fore margins of the plates; Library label (cancelled) tipped in before front free endpaper. A very good, complete copy. Nissen ZBI, 3035. Not in Wood.

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