Berlin, Officina Academia, 1844. 8vo (23.2 x 14.6 cm). xv, 424 pp. 20th-century half linen over marbled boards. Spine with gilt bands and vignettes, and burgundy morocco label with gilt title. Original printed wrappers bound in.

A very good, uncut and unopened copy, therefore, with the widest possible margins. Written, but not issued in his lifetime, by the German explorer Johann Reinhold Forster (1729-1798), during his travels, as the official naturalist, with Captain Cook during his second voyage around the world. However, the work was deemed important enough to have it published on behalf of the Königlich-Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften almost half a century after Forster’s death. It contains descriptions of more than 300 animals, chiefly birds, mammals, and fish, but also butterflies, and other invertebrates. The editor was the German zoologist and founder of both the Berlin Botanical Garden and the Berlin Natural History Museum, Martin Hinrich Carl [or Karl] Lichtenstein (1780-1857). On the front wrapper, the title is shortened to: I. R. Forsteri. Descriptiones animalium in itinere ad maris australis terras per annos 1772-74 suscepto observatorum edidit H. Lichtenstein. Vague stamp in the top outer margin of the front wrapper; front wrapper a bit soiled; old, simple repair to two short tears in the rear wrapper. The binding is carefully executed and not inelegant, and, moreover, most certainly protective. Cat. BM(NH), p. 596; Ferguson 3822; Nissen ZBI, under 1413.