Naturgeschichte des Mineralreichs fur Schule und Haus
Eßlingen und München: J. F. Schreiber, [ca. 1889]. 4to, 2 parts in 1; pp. [12], 74; [2], 40, [8]; 24 composite plates, 22 of them chromolithographs of various minerals, plus 18 double-page chromolithograph plates on geology and paleontology; text in double column, pictorial paper covered boards, backed in brown cloth, gilt title on spine, red dyed top edge; light sunning to boards and edge wear, signature on half title, near fine. "In 1858, Johann Gottlob Kurr published Das Mineralreich in Bildern, a very popular book that beautifully illustrated minerals on 25 color plates. After Kurr's death, Kenngott appropriated authorship and the result were ... four issues that contain essentially the same text. Variations on the title pages differentiate the various issues." Schuh's bibliography identifies 4 issues. This copy does not cleanly conform to any of them but is closest to Issue D. The title page is correct but the pagination has two extra preliminary leaves. (See Schuh, The Mineralogical Record online at mineralogicalrecord.com for Kenngott's contribution). "This stunningly illustrated book is the work of distinguished German mineralogist Gustav Adolph Kenngott (1818-1897). Particularly interested in crystallography, Kenngott was the first to describe enstatite, a rare green mineral which can be cut as a gemstone. This volume is a distillation of his work intended for 'the visual instruction of the young in school and with family'” (Smithsonian). Part of the Naturgeschichte des Tier-, Pflanzen- und Mineralreichs, erster Teil series. Item #58611
Price: $1,250.00
