Genuine antique shell prints from 1784 by Thomas Martyn

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Figures of Non Descript [i.e., Common] Shells, Collected in Different Voyages to the South Seas since the year 1764

by Thomas Martyn
London, 1784

Original 240-year-old hand-colored copperplate engravings on chain-laid, watermarked paper

Each sheet is 10 7/8 x 13 3/8 inches with black ink-ruled borders and numbered by hand, interleaved on blue sugar paper (15 7/8 x 16 1/8 inches) as issued, also with ink ruling and hand numbering.
No text, but copy of dated frontispiece will accompany each print.

Excerpts from the preface:

"The work will commence with the figures of shells that have been collected under the command of Captains Byron, Wallace, Cook, and others in the different voyages to the South Seas."

"The first and chief duty incumbent on the conchologist is a scrupulous and minute attention to the figure, mouth, extremeties, and convolutions of those shells...The long descriptions and details of the generation and properties of shells, given by most writers of conchology, are wholly omitted here; and the utmost care has been taken that each figure, by being an exact and faithful transcript from nature, shall be sufficiently explanatory of the subject which it represents."

After expressing great dissatisfaction with all existing systems for classification of sea shells, Mr. Martyn announces his invention of an entirely new system which is shown in his "Explanatory Table," which included the English name, the Latin name, and where the shell was collected.

"The superior style in which the work now offered to the public is executed will best appear by comparing it with all others extant either in this, or any other branch of natural history. The drawings will be minutely correct; the engravings will consist merely of a delicate outline; to this the utmost skill and labour of the painter will be added, in order to produce from the whole the full effect of that beautiful contour, rich colouring, and bold relief, which the subject so peculiarly demands, and which the art of painting alone can properly supply."

Please click on a thumbnail for enlargement. Most of the engravings are still "interleaved" on the blue sugar paper, meaning they are delicately "tipped in," or glued with 2 small dots in just two corners and easily removed from the interleaving paper for framing purposes. In some cases the print in no longer interleaved Any condition issues will be noted on the enlarged view. Our photos do not do these engravings justice; they are truly stunning in their elegant simplicity and delicate coloring.

Fig. 2

Prismatic Buccin.
Bucc. Prismaticum
(Friendly Isles)

9.5 x 7.125 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$600

Fig. 4

Thorn Buccin.
Bucc. Spinosum
(Friendly Isles)

8.75 x 6.125 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$600

Channeled Buccin.

Fig. 7

Channeled Buccin.
Bucc. Stristum
(New Zealand)

9.125 x 6.875 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

Fig. 9

Scoop Buccin.
Bucc. Haustrum
(New Zealand)

9.5 x 6.875 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$600

Fig. 10

Spur Buccin.
Calcar
(New Zealand)

9.5 x 7.375 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

Fig. 12

Crinkled Club
Clava Rugata
(Friendly Isles)

9.875 x 7.5 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$600

Fig. 14

Carnelian cowry
Cypraea carneuta
(Otaheite) [Tahiti]

10.5 x 6.875 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

Fig. 15

Netted cowry
Cypraea reticulata
(Friendly Isles)

10.875 x 7.25 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

Fig. 21

Beaded Mitre
Mitra sphaerulata
(Friendly Isles)

9.5 x 7 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$600

Fig. 23

Clouded Mitre
Mitra versicolor
(Friendly Isles)

9.375 x 6.875 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$600

Fig. 25

Fibrous Snail
Limax fibratus
(Friendly Isles)

9.25 x 7.5 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$750

Echinated Snail shell

Fig. 26

Echinated Snail
Limax echinatus
(Friendly Isles)

10.125 x 6.675 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

Fig. 27

French Horn Snail
Lituus
(Pulo Condore)

9.875 x 6.875 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$600

Fig. 31

Rugged Trochus
Trochus inequalis
(Friendly Isles)

10 x 6.875 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

Fig. 33

Ringed Trochus
Trochus annulatus
(New Zealand)

9.875 x 6.75 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

Fig. 34

Ribbed Trochus
Trochus costatus
(King George's Sound)
[Western Australia]

9.125 x 6.25 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$600

Fig. 36

Dotted Trochus
Trochus puctulatus
(Friendly Isles)

9.675 x 6.375 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

(please see enlargement for condition issues)

Fig. 39

Girdle Volute
Cingulum
(Friendly Isles)

8.75 x 6.75 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

$600
(see enlargement)

rayed cockle shell

Fig. 40

Rayed Cockle
Cochlea radiata
(Friendly Isles)

10.5 x 7 inches
(dimensions of outer neat line or border)

Thousands of original antique and vintage Natural History prints here