first edition

This is one of the most famous books on shells, by one of the most important naturalists of the pre-Linnaean period. Rumphius (1627-1702) was a Dutch naturalist born in Hanau, Germany. He was employed by the Dutch East India Company. He spent most of his life on the Island of Ambon, and did not live to see the appearance of his book. In D'Amboinsche Rariteitkamer (The Ambonese Curiosity Cabinet), Rumphius named most of the common Pacific shells.

First edition; folio, (40.4 x 26.7 cm); complete with engraved author portrait and architectural frontispiece and 60 further engraved plates, tissue repair to top of frontispiece, light tears on pp.2, 45, 283, missing corner on p.283, tape repair to plate xli; recent vellum binding; 340pp.