Leipzig, Gerhard Fleischer dem Jungern, 1808. Three parts in one. 8vo (17.2 x 12.0 cm). Three title pages, 962 pp. [vi, 196; xxx, 466; xxiv, 240]; ten large, folded, engraved plates [0; 5; 5], 36 text illustrations [36; 0; 0]. Early 19th-century half calf over patterned boards. Spine with gilt ornaments and title.

The complete herpetology, and part of the ichthyology (as usual in those days), entomology (with five large, folded plates of beetles, butterflies, and other insects), and malacology of this series, written by the German naturalist Johann Heinrich Helmuth (1732-1813). The fine plates are by the German natural history artist and engraver Johann Stephan Capieux (1748-1813) [because of his typical engraved signature sometimes erroneously listed as Gapieux), and dated between 1791 and 1800. The first three volumes deal with birds, mammals and more fish; the last three with botany and mineralogy, but those are not included. Slight shelf-wear, some light, mostly marginal toning and spotting. In all a very good copy. Rare. Both Hagen and Horn-Schenkling err in listing the author's surname as Hellmuth, but neither includes this work. Also, neither in Adler nor in Cat. BM(NH), nor in Nissen.