viii, [1], 4-194 pp. Page 162 is misnumbered 137. (4to) 10x8, disbound, in later wrappers, custom cloth slipcase. On title page is "No." and in manuscript, the number 95.
A rare auction catalogue. Compiled by Reverend John Lightfoot, English naturalist and librarian to the Duchess Dowager of Portland. The Duchess, Margaret Cavendish Bentwick, began collecting natural specimens as a girl. Over time, her collection grew to include all “Three Kingdoms of Nature, the Animal, Vegetable, and Fossil…” but more so than any other category, her love of shells is displayed, “Conchology,” as it is called in the Preface. Lady Margaret employed famed naturalist, Dr. Daniel Solander, to assist in the cataloguing of her specimens, however his death in 1782 cut his efforts short, according to the preface. Over 38 days, 4156 lots were offered for auction including many lots of interest in natural, cultural, and art history. Lacking engraved frontispiece.
Condition:
Slipcase with shelf wear and some soiling; volume spine lacking, page block split in two; heavily foxed at preliminary and rear pages, lighter foxing to margins of all pages, very small and unobtrusive spots of worming at each page in gutters; else very good.