An introduction to the study of conchology : including observations on the Linnæan genera, and the arrangement of M. Lamarck, a glossary, and a table of English names / by Samuel Brookes 1815

Samuel Brookes made this book, "An introduction to the study of conchology" sometime in the early 19th century. With its marbled cover and meticulously rendered color illustrations, it is an object that speaks to the burgeoning scientific interests of the time. Consider the context of its making: a period of intense colonial expansion, where natural specimens were gathered from across the globe, shipped back to Europe, and classified. Brookes' book, with its glossary and table of English names, served as a guide for amateurs eager to participate in this scientific project. It reflects the increasing democratization of knowledge, but also the power dynamics inherent in the act of naming and categorizing the natural world. To truly understand this book, we need to delve into the scientific literature of the period, the social networks of naturalists, and the economic structures that enabled the collection and distribution of specimens. It's through this kind of historical inquiry that we can fully appreciate the cultural work this book performed.