London, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1887. Two volumes [text and atlas] in three. 4to (29.2 x 24.6 cm). Haf-titles and title pages to all three parts; 1991 [clxxxviii, 888, 889-1803] pp.; 140 lithographed plates of which 16 completely or partly in chromolithography, several tinted and the others plain. One very large, multi-folded map of the Earth's oceans, printed in red, blue and black. Original uniform, dark green blind stamped pebbled cloth. Boards with bevelled edges. Gilt title on the spines. Brown endpapers.

A rare and sought-after complete part from the famous series, The Zoology of the Challenger Expedition, volume XVIII, part XL. Containing descriptions and illustrations of numerous new species, all very beautifully and accurately illustrated in all their microscopic details by the German zoologist Ernst Heinrich Philipp August Haeckel (1834-1919). It were magnificent illustrations like these which inspired the Jugendstil artists. "Professor Haeckel devoted ten years of his life to this work" (John Murray, in his preface). This is the whole Volume 18; the volumes entirely occupied by Haeckel's paper. A very good, unmarked set. A circular stamp, on the title page, merly says: "Presented by His Brittanic Majesty's Government". Added is a loose, printed leaflet with a request by the editor, John Murray, "...to Authors sending him copies of separate papers, or references to works, in which the Challenger discoveries are referred to, or the observations of the Expedition are discussed. This will greatly facilitate the compilation of a complete Bibliography, and the discussion of the results of the Expedition, in the final Volume of the Series...". Text volume uncut. Labels removed from spines foot; some minimal shelf-wear, except for a tear in head of the spine of the first text volume and small imperfections to the front hinge of the plate volume; inner joints slightly cracked (because of the heavy book blocks), however, much less than usual; straight fold and tear in the rear free endpaper of the first text volume. Apart from these few, small blemishes an impeccable set, free of foxing, staining, and library marks. Cat. BM(NH) pp. 717, 760; Nissen ZBI, 4754.