Observations sur les Tortues terrestres et paludines de Bassin de la Mediterranee

Pp. 44; 8 full page lithographed plates (some tinted and some hand-colored).  One-half black cloth over marbled boards, with original printed front wrapper attached to the front cover, folio (14.25 x 11 inches).  Archives du Muséum D’Histoire Naturelle de Lyon, volume 4.  An early work on turtles and tortoises of the Mediterranean region with excellent color and tinted plates by physician-naturalist and explorer Louis Lortet of Rhone, France.  According to Adler (volume 3, pp. 152-153): “Observations sur les Tortues terrestres et paludines de Bassin de la Mediterranee includes the detailed descriptions and illustrations of nine turtles and tortoises with information on coloration, distribution, habits, and reproduction.  The eight lithographed and partly colored plates are among the finest ever produced of turtles.”  Small oval stamp on the rear side of each plate: “Bibliotheque du Museum” and a small old square stamp “Depot Legal Rhone” in the outer front corner of each plate, no other ownership marks.  Rare work seldom offered.