Kaiserlich-Königliche Geologische Reichsanstalt. Abhandlungen. Bd I-III [with] Jahrbuch. Bd I-XI

Description:

Abhandlungen Vol. I-III (1852-1856), large 4to, illustrated by many fine lithographic plates (some tinted): Vol. I (1852) and Vol. II (1855) contain a number of major contributions on the Geology, Palaeozoology and Palaeobotany of Austria-Hungary, including articles by Constantin Ettingshausen on fossil flora of Central Europe; Vol. III (1856) contains a single work - 'Die Fossilen Mollusken des Tertiaer-Beckens von Wien. Vol. I. Univalven' by Moriz Hörnes.

Jahrbuch Vol. I-XI (1850-1860), roy. 8vo, contains many papers on the geology, mineralogy, and palaeontology, mainly of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and are illustrated by maps (some folding, some colour), plates and text figures. Included at the end of the Jahrgang IX, X & XI (1858-1860) of the Jahrbuch are the first three volumes of Verhandlungen der K.K. Geologischen Reichanstalt.

Cat. BM(NH) 1, p. 75.

The Kaiserlich-Königliche Geologische Reichsanstalt (Imperial Geological Survey) was founded in Vienna in 1849, with the noted Austrian geologist and mineralogist Wilhelm Karl Ritter von Haidinger (1795-1871) as director. The Abhandlungen der k.k. Geologischen Reichsanstalt commenced publication in 1852. The early monographic volumes are now exceptionally rare. The Reichsanstalt carried out a geological survey of all the territories of the Habsburg Empire, resulting in a unifying geological map published in 1867.

Condition

14 vols, large 4to and roy. 8vo, finely and richly bound in orig., uniform red morocco, elaborate gilt borders to front and rear covers, with title and central imperial crest to front boards, central design including miner to rear boards, gilt fillet to board edges, gilt dentelles, raised bands, gt titles and tooling to spines, aeg, white moiré endpapers. The Abhandlungenand Jahrbuch were issued by the Kaiserlich-Königliche Geologische Reichsanstalt in paper wrappers. Such a fine set of bindings suggests this may have been a special presentation copy, possibly to one of seven nobility listed as receiving copies on page viii, Jahrbuch 1850 (recipients include Franz Joseph I of Austria). Some light rubbing/scuffing. Some light scattered foxing, occasional browning; 12cm closed tear to one folding plate. Withdrawn from an institutional library with ink stamps to title pages and verso of plates. A rare and luxuriously bound set chronicling a decade of important Austro-Hungarian research in the fields of Geology and Palaeontology.