Rudiments of Conchology: Designed as a Familiar Introduction to the Science, for the Use of Young Persons, with Explanatory Plates, and references to the collection of shells in the British Museum by Mary Anne Venning - 1826

London : Harvey and Darton, 1826 A very good copy of the 1st edition with hand coloured frontispiece and 9 further hand-coloured plates. A scarce work by a little-known female author - Mary Anne Venning. Her best known work is probably 'The Geographical Present' and she wrote a number of other works for children with a scientific theme. She follows the same style as other female authors of the time eg Elizabeth Fitton, Jane Marcet, by using dialogue between a teacher or parent and a child or children to convey factual information. In contemporary quarter leather binding with marbled boards. The spine has been rebacked - retaining the original. The corners and edges have wear but the binding is otherwise in very good condition. The original endpapers have been repaired and retained. There is a light ink signature of Alice Harbuck to the fep and to the top of the title page. Contents: frontispiece, title page, advertisement (listing sources for her work) 1p, contents listing 3pp; text 103pp with 9 further hand coloured plates. Contents in very good clean condition. There is a little paint marking to the verso of plate 9.