Porcelaines Mysterieuses de Nouvelle-Caledonie / Mysterious Cowries of New Caledonia, 1975, HC, VG.

Pierson, R., and G. Pierson. Dr. R. Pierson. 1975.

French & English, Very Good, HC, 8vo, 12" x 8 1/2", 120 pp.

Blue cloth over board, stamped gilt lettering to front and spine, minor bump to bottom front edge, some foxing to edges of text block, otherwise, sharp tips, tightly bound, and unmarked throughout. Very Good pictorial black dust jacket, featuring a color photograph of a mollusk to front, white lettering to front, spine, and interior flaps, minor wear to edges and tips, 1" closed-tear to head and 1/2" closed-tear to bottom from tip, light foxing to interior panels and chipping to top back edge, otherwise, clean and intact. Protected in a paper-backed Mylar sleeve. [4] 120 pp., replete with full-color images, black illustrations, map of Pacific Ocean, Foreword by C. M. Burgess M. D., Introduction, Notes, Definition of a Cowrie, Geographical situation, Map of South New Caledonia and habitat of abnormal Cowries, Map of main zones and extension, Shell collecting, History, Melanism, Rostration, X-Rays, Conclusion, List and observations, Bibliography, and Index. Published of 5,000 copies. From inside dust jacket: "In reality, the reader will not find any new species in this book, but how astonished he will be to discover the sumptuous robes and the elegant forms with which are adorned the commonest cowries of New Caledonia."