Ellis, John; An Essay Towards a Natural History of the Corallines and other Marine Productions of the Like Kind commonly found on the Coast of great Britain and Ireland. London, 1755. Quarto, pp. xxvii, 103, frontispiece and 39 additional plates some folded.
The work includes plate 38 which is lacking in some copies and the water microscope plate which is often lacking.
The volume is complete and in a contemporary full calf with gilt titles, gilt ruled edges and raised spine bands. Wear to cover edges, corners and spine edges nicely restored. Light type offsetting to some text pages and the title page from the frontispiece. Light toning to some text page and plate margins. Over all a very good copy of the complete work.
Ellis (1710-1776); a British physician, naturalist and merchant is best remembered for his studies of zoophytes. In 1754 he was elected to the Royal Society and in 1767 was awarded the Copley Medal. His work "Natural History of the Corallines" is one of the earliest attempts at a discussion and description of the various known species. This copy includes the additional plate and text describing Cuff's microscope used to study aquatic specimens. The plates were engraved by James Kirk, J. Mynde and H. Roberts after original drawings by Georg Dionysius Ehret.