The Universal Conchologist - photo 1
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The Universal Conchologist

Lot 83
19.10.2023 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Sold
$ 32 760
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1032735
Lot 83 | The Universal Conchologist
Estimate value
$ 30 000 – 50 000
Thomas MARTYN (c.1760-1816). Figures of Non Descript Shells Collected in the Different Voyages to the South Seas Since the Year 1764 [Volumes I and II] and The Universal Conchologist Exhibiting the Figure of Every Known Shell Accurately Drawn and Painted After Nature [Volumes III and IV]. London: sold at his house no. 16 Marlborough Street, [1784]-1789[-1812].

A fine copy of the rare expanded edition of Thomas Martyn’s exquisite magnum opus on shells, in the large format “deluxe” issue—one of the most attractive shell books ever produced. Martyn originally intended The Universal Conchologist “to commence with the figures of shells (most of them rare and nondescript) which have been collected by several officers of the ships under the command of Captain Byron, Wallis, Cook, and others made to the South Sea.” He bought a large number of the shells brought back from Cook's third voyage, many of which are illustrated here, alongside specimens from other famous collections. Originally published as two volumes in 1784 on mainly South Seas shells, Martyn later extended the work to a "Universal" four volumes containing 160 plates. This immense project was beset by delays, with Martyn working from his own private residence alongside his “Academy” of young men whom he had trained as artists. The plates his pupils helped create are particularly fine and often confused with the original watercolors because of their soft aquatint engraving techniques and delicate hand-coloring.

Four volume sets such as this are exceedingly rare, and are complicated by various issue points including variations in formats and dating. Many of the plates contained here match the description of the standard quarto edition, while others match those intended for the "select" folio issue, in which the finely colored plates are usually mounted on blue-grey paper. Remarkably, the "select" plates contained in this copy are unmounted. In vol. I, the frontispiece depicting the single “Aphrodite” shell lacks the usual caption in Greek or the gilt border. Vol. I also includes two pages of engraved medallion plates, dated 1788 and 1792 respectively. Otherwise, this copy matches the "select" folio issue points as described in Forbes, which notes the rarity of such a complete copy.

Furthermore, plates 2, 30, and 35 contain shells with two views and are contained in a quadruple black-ruled border. This differs from the standard quarto version which only illustrates one view, likely due to the smaller format. Many of the plates in vols III and IV are signed in ink "J.H. pinx[i]t" and one, plate 144, is inscribed "Paintd by J Harris Mansion House Street Kennington 1812." This date accords with other evidence that the last volume was not completed until early in the nineteenth century. Along with the “1811” watermark found on many of the plate guards and the free endleaf of the final volume, these dates are evidence of the work’s extended creation period and the massive effort Martyn exerted to create this chef d’oeuvre. Forbes 80, 175; Nissen ZBI 2728 (Nissen has conflated the author with Thomas Martyn (1735-1825), F.R.S, botanist).

Four volumes, large quarto (335 x 273mm). Half title in first volume, 4 engraved titles, engraved dedication to the King, and 27 pp. of letterpress text in French and English. Hand-colored engraved frontispiece in vol. I of shell, 2 engraved plates of imperial medallions, 5 engraved tables, 160 engraved plates containing 355 figures, all finely hand-colored after original watercolors with the plate numbers inserted in manuscript, each plate mounted on thick wove paper (offsetting mostly to the plate guards, a few small stains, light marginal dampstains to first blanks in vol. II and plate 129). Contemporary blindstamped red morocco gilt by Welcher, gilt stamped turn-ins, all edges gilt (joints starting, spines somewhat sunned).
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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