Includes index (printed by J. McCreery). Includes shells from New Zealand and the Pacific area. Shells identified as from New Zealand feature on plates 7, 9, 15, 29, 30 and 58. "Perry's remarkable book was, when first published, subject of adverse criticism from some of the eminent conchologists of the day especially by J. E. Gray, G. B. Sowerby and L. A. Reeve, and particularly with regard to the generic and specific names and to the sometimes fantastic shell forms, with a bold application of improbable colours. Nonetheless many of its new taxonomic names are firmly entrenched in the literature of today. It is certainly one of the most enjoyably colourful shell books and the only one to be illustrated with aquatint plates. Most of the specimens illustrated came from various private museums, among them the outstanding shell collection of Elizabeth Bligh, which contained many beautiful and rare examples obtained through her husband, William Bligh of the Bounty."--Taken from Abebooks.com listing (accessed 25/2/2015) AWMM copy: Boards have had conservation work, with new endpapers, but still features original green half leather binding with marbled boards. Marbled edges of text block.