Klein, Jakob Theodor
Descriptiones Tubulorum Marinorum in quorum censum relati Lapides Caudae Cancri, Gesneri and his similes. Belemnitae eorumque alveoli. Secundum dispositionem Musei Kleiniani. Addita est Dissertatio epistolaris de Pilis marinis. Mit 10 gestoch. Tafeln (2 gefalt.) Danzig, Apud Knochium, (1731). 4°. (4), X, 26 S., (4). Pp. d. Zt. mit Pgt.-Rücken (Deckel mit Wurmspur).
With 10 engraved plates (2 folding). Contemp. vellum backed boards, dated on cover 1775 (D.A.S.), two morocco labels, red edges (cover and inner hinges with worming). - Two works on shells and sea-urchins describing specimens from Klein's Museum in Gdansk & other Natural History Collections as described on the plates (J.H. Heucher, Duchess of Radziwill, P.H. Morgner, N.J. Gerlach, M. Lilienthal, F.G. Haupt, J.G. Teske, J.G. Gmelin, J.H. Linck, J.L. Schendel, B.G. Schütz, M.Ph. Hartmann, D. Kade, et al). Rare first edition of this early work of zoology and paleontology, that includes a systematic study of marine fossils and recent marine specimens by the eminent zoologist Klein. The plates illustrate the author's marine specimens as well as fossils from his private collection (Musaeum Kleinianum). The present work is important for its classification, based entirely on external characteristics. - Bound with: As listed above. - "One of the earliest monographic treatments of the sea-urchins, a major source of information on the Echinoidea for zoologists and paleontologists throughout the 18th century". - Jacob Theodor Klein (1685-1759), a leading marine zoologist, "had many and diverse interests in natural history besides sea urchins. He developed a botanical garden in Danzig, founded and directed a naturalist's society there, made extensive collections, and published about two dozen monographs, including studies of birds, fishes, reptiles, and invertebrates other than the sea urchins, particularly the mollusks." (DSB). - Klein introduced the name Echinodermata, the term now used for the Phylum in this work (for the class Echinoidea). Several of the figures may be representations of type specimens. Despite the title it does not include true belemnites (fossil Cephalopoda, Mollusca), but there are belemnite-like sea urchin spines. - Influenced by Johann Philipp Breyne (who in turn followed the examples of John Morton and John Woodward), he was especially interested in the systematical classification of plants and animals. He attempted to order animals according to purely formal and external, easily recognizable criteria. Although this brought him in opposition to the work of Carl von Linné, he enjoyed wide scholarly recognition. He used the specimens of his collection to illustrate his works." - Bound with: As listed above. - Inside beside a wormtrack on first title, clean and fresh.
Seltene erste Ausgabe des zoologischen und paläontologischen Werkes. - Armin Geus, Jakob Theodor Klein ... In: Jb. f. Fränk. Landesforschung 30 (1970), 1-13. - DSB VII, 401. - Nissen ZBI, 2205. - Cobres, Deliciæ Cobresianæ, 1782, 420. - Nissen ZBI, 2203. - Roller & Goodman, Catalogue 2, 44. - Taf. sign. "Uhlieh sc.", "PB sc.", "C. Fritzsch sc. Hamb." - Angebunden: Naturalis dispositio echinodermatum. Accessit lucubratiuncula de aculeis echinorum marinorum, cum spicilegio de belemnitis. Mit gestoch. Titelvignette, gestoch. Initiale u. 36 gestoch. Tafeln von I.W. Stör u. G.W. Knorr. Titel in Rot u. Schwarz. Danzig, T.J. Schreiber, 1734. (2), 78 S. - Erster Titel mit Wurmspur, sonst wohlerhalten.
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