CAMERON, RODERICK WILLIAM — Shells

Octopus Books Ltd. 1972. (ISBN: 9780706400328). Hardcover. Hardback with D/J in very good condition. The most common shells, but not the least beautiful, are free: they can be found in their billions on the sea-shore. But some are extremely rare and valuable, like the beautiful Gloria-maris ('Glory of the sea') of which there are only twenty-five known specimens in the world; and the Cypraea leucidon, of which there are only two. Between these limits lie more than 60,000 species of shells. From classical antiquity onwards, the shell or mollusc has been regarded as one of the most amazing achievements of nature, and has frequently been imitated in works-of-art. Its ornamentation aspires to an astonishing variety of pattern and intricacy of design which are beyond scientific explanation. In this book Roderick Cameron has brought together some of the most splendid and interesting examples from all over the world. Used: Acceptable.