London, Smith, Elder and Co., 1838. Folio (30.3 x 24.1 cm). Title (to the Invertebata part), title (to the work), [ii], 75 pp.; four finely lithographed and hand-coloured plates. Contemporary green, polished calf. Spine with five raised bands bordered by double gilt-lines; black morocco label with gilt title; boards with gilt borders, edges blind-tooled with oblique grooves. Marbled endpapers; marbled edges.

This is a very rare originally hand-coloured copy of the complete, rare invertebrate part of Sir Andrew Smith's important early work on the fauna of South(ern) Africa. All other parts were written by Smith (1797-1872) and deal with vertebrates. This is why he is regarded as "the father of South African Zoology" (Adler). This part, however, was left to William Sharp Mac'Leay (1792-1865), an expert of the groups treated, in particular beetles and crabs. The Coleoptera section is entirely devoted to the family Cetoniidae (flower chafers), except for a chapter on the genus Cerapterus, which belongs to the Paussidae (ant nest beetles). A complete collation is as follows: On the Cetoniidae of South Africa (52 pp., one plate); On the brachyurous decapod Crustacea brought from the Cape by Dr. Smith (19 pp., two plates); and On a new species ofCerapterus (four pp., one plate). Both uncoloured, and finely hand-coloured copies are known. This copy belongs to the latter, much rarer version. Spine very skilfully renewed. It is near-impossible to see the transition to to the boards. Small remnants of bookplates on both the front and rear pastedowns. Inner joint partly broken; the intact book block nearly detached from boards, just holding. Otherwise, an excellent, clean copy. The plates not affected by foxing or toning, which is unusual indeed. Adler I, p. 36; Horn-Schenkling, 14355; Nissen ZBI, 3868.