Author: Cope, Edward Drinker
Title: Batrachia and Reptilia of Costa Rica with Notes on the Herpetology and Ichthyology of Nicaragua and Peru
Description: Philadelphia: privately printed, 1875. Limited edition. Pp. (2), 93-187, (1, explanation of plates); 6 full page black-and-white lithographed plates. Original one-half black leather over black cloth-covered boards, front cover with gilt border decorations and with black leather title/author label outlined by gilt decorations, sm folio (13 x 10 inches; 33.5 x 23.5 cm). This is the very rare privately printed first edition that was limited to 50 copies only. In this work, Cope describes 37 new species and 5 new genera of reptiles and amphibians from Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Peru. In 1877 this same work was re-published in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences. The monograph contains four separate papers by Cope -- Article 4: On the Batrachia and Reptilia of Costa Rica + Article 5: On the Batrachia and Reptilia collected by D. John M. Branford during the Nicaraguan Canal Survey of 1874 + Article 6: Report on the Reptiles brought by Professor James Orton from the middle and upper Amazon, and western Peru + Article 8: Note on the Ichthyology of Lake Titicaca. On the front endpaper there is a pencil signature attached: ""From Prof. Amos P. Brown, H. W. Fowler."" Amos P. Brown was a Professor of Mineralogy and Geology at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. H. W. Fowler was a professor at the University of California, Museum of Paleontology. Laid in at front is a 3x5 inch card with a note in ink reading: ""Cope's own personal volume presented to Robert Sutcliffe of Fairfield on August 2, 1949 by Cope's Grandniece, Mrs. Sangree. Rare, ANSP lacks a copy, another copy in Library of Congress"". As this work was limited to 50 copies only, printed privately by and for Edward Cope, it seldom comes up for sale. Light marginal browning to the some tissue guards protecting the six lithographed plates, endpapers renewed, light edge wear to leather corners, some rubbing to cloth along the bottom of the rear cover; overall a tight and clean copy in near fine condition..

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