BINNEY, Amos (1803-1847). The Territory Air-Breathing Mollusks of the United States. Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1851-1892. Complete and hand-colored copy of the three original volumes of the monumental work dedicated to the earth mollusks of the United States, one of the most important nineteenth-century publications of American malachology. Started by Amos Binney, co-founder of the Boston Society of Natural History, the work remained unfinished at his death and was continued by Augustus A. Gould (1805-1866) for these first 3 volumes and for the next 4 volumes (printed until 1892) by his son William G. Binney (1833-1909), who completed its publication through the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology of the University of Harvard. The rich iconographic apparatus, consisting of finely engraved and largely hand-colored plates, makes it one of the most important scientific atlases dedicated to North American malacological fauna. 3 volumes, 4to, (288 x 225mm). 16 tables on the first volume and 88 on the third (numbered I-74 with some tables bis and tris), many colored by hand (light browning). Editorial binding in half leather with gold titles on dowels on the back (light skinning). (3)