Lot 138: [PILKINGTON, WILLIAM.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Testacea Britannica]. 3 conchological albums so titled on spine. English, early nineteenth-century

3 volumes, folio (320 x 250mm.), 464 original drawings with watercolour and gouache on 497 numbered leaves, each showing one or more examples accompanied by manuscript text, contemporary calf, bindings rebacked retaining original lettering-pieces

William Pilkington, engraved armorial bookplate

a unique conchological manuscript, illustrated with life-size drawings of British shells. Each leaf, mounted on blue grey paper, shows the Latin binomial for the specimen at hand, followed by the source of its first scientific description. The shells have been arranged according to genus and species, and some have been numbered. Under each drawing there is a brief description, complete with references to other works, followed by a note on the provenance of the specimen. A few leaves are unused, perhaps the intention having been for other species to be added later. There are three sets of artist's initials: "WP" (Pilkington, 46 drawings), "RWP" (Redmond William Pilkington, William's son, 52 drawings), and "JH" (unidentified, 290 drawings). 76 drawings are unsigned

The text appears to be in the hand of William Pilkington, who has initialled a note on leaf 415 and put his name to examples described on leaves 363 and 383. Pilkington was a wealthy architect from Yorkshire, who owned property in Hatfield, where the example on leaf 363 was found.