Lea, Isaac

3 parts in one (as issued), 4to (275 x 215mm.), 28 hand-coloured plates (13 engraved, 2 etched, 13 lithographed), all by J. Drayton, 3 leaves with 3pp. of early manuscript index, bound to style in contemporary half russia over marbled paper-covered boards

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A separate issue of Lea's earliest work on shells, unrecorded in this form. All three parts of this work were also published in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, but this is the first example recorded that includes a unifying title for the three individual parts. It shows that the three collected parts should now be considered as a separate work to be added to the slim canon of early American colour-plate books. It is also interesting to note that the final part is published here in 1831, some years before it first appeared in volume 4 of the Transactions, published in 1834.