拍品专文
The four volumes collate thus: Volume I: XC, 219, [24], 50 plates; Volume II: XXIV, 240, [9], 99 plates (numbered 1-98 with 2 different plates numbered 70); volume III: 276, [10], plates 1-67 in 56 leaves; Volume IV: I, 214, plates 1-83a-83b-84 on 81 leaves
The plate count tallies with both Nissen and the titles of each volume (volume IV, plate 84 is called for in the errata note) but Pritzel calls for 84 plates in both volumes III and IV. Pritzel also calls for 130 preliminary pages in the first volume and it is possible that our copy is lacking 40 leaves.
In 1733 Gmelin embarked on an imperial scientific expedition to eastern Siberia with the historian Gerhard Friedrich Müller and the astronomer Louis Delisle de la Croyère which was to last nine and a half years. As well as describing 1178 species, he also contributed to the knowledge of zoology, geography, geology, ethnography and natural resources of the area. Gmelin's preface includes an overall picture of the nature of central Siberia and his work represents the most important of the early contributions to the natural history and geography of the Siberian mainland.
The plate count tallies with both Nissen and the titles of each volume (volume IV, plate 84 is called for in the errata note) but Pritzel calls for 84 plates in both volumes III and IV. Pritzel also calls for 130 preliminary pages in the first volume and it is possible that our copy is lacking 40 leaves.
In 1733 Gmelin embarked on an imperial scientific expedition to eastern Siberia with the historian Gerhard Friedrich Müller and the astronomer Louis Delisle de la Croyère which was to last nine and a half years. As well as describing 1178 species, he also contributed to the knowledge of zoology, geography, geology, ethnography and natural resources of the area. Gmelin's preface includes an overall picture of the nature of central Siberia and his work represents the most important of the early contributions to the natural history and geography of the Siberian mainland.