[Drop-head title:] Synopsis of the Fluviatile and Terrestrial Mollusca of the State of Maine.

Edward Sylvester MORSE (1838-1925).

[Drop-head title:] Synopsis of the Fluviatile and Terrestrial Mollusca of the State of Maine. [Portland, Maine: Stephen Berry, [1864]. Quarto (9 ¾ x 7 3/4in; 247 x 197mm). Pp. [1-]2-3[4 final blank page]. One autograph addition, and 7-line autograph manuscript note signed by Morse on p.3. (Old folds, blank lower section of second leaf excised). Stapled into cream paper wrappers. Provenance: William Greene Binney (1833-1909, author’s presentation copy, with note  to an unnamed recipient ‘Suspend judgement until you hear the reasons for many things / which you may be surprised at in this catalogue. / Have you an extra copy of your “Synopsis” like the one you / sent me marked for work? Would like to have one. / You sent me a pamphlet of your fathers “Monograph of the / Helices” with lithograph figures. Have you a spare copy? / I want to own[?] one very much. / Very truly yours / Edw. S. Morse’).

Very rare: W.G. Binney is the likely recipient. Morse refers to ‘your father’(Amos Binney) and his ‘Monograph of the Helices’ which was published in 1840-4. In addition, W.G. Binney and William Baird had circulated their “Synopsis of the species of Air-breathing Mollusks of North America” in 1863.

This outline, ‘Rec’d Febr. 27/64’, appeared while Morse’s first published book was in preparation. ‘Observations On The Terrestrial Pulmonifera of Maine, Including a Catalogue of All the Species of Terrestrial Mollusca and Fluvial Known to Inhabit the State’, also printed by Stephen Berry, appeared later in 1864. The information in the present ‘Synopsis’ was included in a slightly modified form (see pp.5-6 of the larger work). OCLC 78839883 (2 copies).