WOOD - CONCHOLOGY: MYA - THE GREAT GAPER shell print 1835

This very beautiful shell engraving, with original handcolouring illustrated by James Sowerby, is from William Wood’s second edition of “General conchology, or, A description of shells arranged according to the Linnean system,” printed in London with new titles in 1835.

“The first thing which presents itself to the Conchologist is the colours of shells, which may justly be admired, both for their beauty and variety. Nature seems to have diversified her operations, in every way possible; some are distinctly spotted, others streaked; in some the bands are interrupted, in other they are broken into parts…”

From the introduction

William Wood (1774 – 1857) was born in Kendall, a market town in the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England, and studied medicine at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.

After practicing as a surgeon in Kent, his interests turned to Natural History and he became a fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 1798.

In 1815, Wood began work as a bookseller and publisher in the Strand, London, and wrote several books on natural history subjects including two devoted to shells: “General Conchology” and “Index Testaceologicus.”

Ref: S. P. Dance – Zoological Dept., National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, Wales (UK)