Schuh’s Annotated Bio-Bibliography


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KLEIN, Jakob Theodor.

(1685 – 1759)

(Born: Königsberg, Germany??, 15 August 1685; Died: Danzig, ??, 27 February 1759) German palaeontologist & geologist.

Biographical references: ADB. DBA: I 658, 136-155; II 712, 244-246. DSB: 7, 401. Hirsching, Historisch-literarisches Handbuch, 1794-1815. Jöcher, Gelehrten-Lexikon, Supplement. Lambrecht & Quenstedt, Catalogus, 1938: 237. Meusel, Verstorbenen Teutschen Schrifsteller, 1802-16. NDB: 11, 740-1 [by A. Geus]. Poggendorff: 1, col. 1270-1. Sarjeant, Geologists, 1980: 2, 1462. WBI.

1. Latin, 1731.
Descriptiones Tubulorum Marinorum in quorum censum relati Lapides Caudae Cancri, Gesneri and his similes. Belemnitae eorumque alveoli. Secundum dispositionem Musei Kleiniani. Addita est Dissertatio epistolaris de Pilis marinis. Gedani, Apud Knochium, 1731.

4°: [4], x, 26, [4] l., 10 plates (2 folding). Plates are signed "Uhlieh sc.", "PB sc.", "C. Fritzsch sc. Hamb."

Rare. Early work of zoology and paleontology that includes a systematic study of marine fossils and recent marine specimens by the eminent zoologist Klein. The plates illustrate the author's marine specimens as well as fossils from his private collection.

Klein, a leading marine zoologist, "had many and diverse interests in natural history besides sea urchins. He developed a botanical garden in Danzig, founded and directed a naturalist's society there, made extensive collections, and published about two dozen monographs, including studies of birds, fishes, reptiles, and invertebrates other than the sea urchins, particularly the mollusks."-DSB.

Bibliographical references: Cobres, Deliciæ Cobresianæ, 1782: p. 420 ["Eine seltene Auflage."]. DSB: 7, p. 401. LKG: XVII 138. Nissen (BBI): no. 2203. Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 2, p. 44.

2. Latin, 1773 [2nd edition].
Iac. Theod. Klein | [...3 lines of titles and memberships...] | Descriptiones | Tvbvlorvm | Marinorvm | In Quorvm Censvm Relati | Lapides Cavdae Cancri Gesneri | Et His Similes | Belemnitae | Eorvmque | Alveoli | Secvndvm Dispositionem | Mvsei Kleiniani | Addita Est | Dissertatio Epistolaris | De | Pillis Marinis | [rule] | Cvm Decem Tabvlis Aeneis | [double rule] | Gedani et Lipsiae | In Officina Libraria Gleditschiana | CI{\smBackC}I{\smBackC}CCLXXIII.

4°: A-E4 F2; 22l.; [1]-40, [4] p., 10 plates.

Contents: [1-2], Title page, verso blank.; [3-6], Dedication to Hans Sloane, dated 15 March 1731.; [7]-15, "Prolegomena."; 16-40, Text (=`...Tvbvli Marini...').; [3 pgs], "Conspectvs | Dispositionis | Echinorvm Marinorvm | Mvsei Kleiniani."; [1 pg], List of Klein's writings.; [At end], 10 plates.

Rare. Second edition, enlarged after the first appearance of 1731. The present work is important for its classification, based entirely on external characteristics.

Bibliographical references: LKG: XVII 138.

3. Latin, 1758 [Part 1].
Iacobi Theodori Klein | [...5 lines of titles and memberships...] | Lvcvbrativncvla Svbterranea | Prior | De | Lapidibvs Macrocosmi | Proprie Talibvs. | [ornate rule] | 1757. | Cicero pro lucullo: | Bt pulcherrimum est vera videre, sic pro veris | salsa probare turpissimum. | [ornate rule] | Petropoli | Typis Academiae Scientiarum | 1758.

4°: [1]-38 p., diagrams. An early study on the classification of minerals and stones based upon their external characteristics. Very rare.

Bibliographical references: BL [B.354.(1.)]. Cobres, Deliciæ Cobresianæ, 1782: 2, 687. Dryander, Catalogus Banks, 1796-1800: 4, p. 9. LKG: XII 52. Schröter's Journal für die Liebhaber: 2, 105.

4. Latin, 1760 [Part 2].
Iacobi Theodori Kleinii | Vlterior Lvcvbratio | Svbterranea | De | Terris | Et | Mineralibvs. | Accedit | Eivsdem Lvcvbratio Posterior Svbterranea | De Lapidibvs Idiomorphis | Cvm Perpetvis Commentariis. | [rule] | Persivs | Qui prior es, eur me in decursu Lampada poscis? | [ornate rule] | Petropoli | Typis Academiae Scientiarum | cI[Backwards C] I[Backwards C]cc lx.

4°: [1]-56 p. An early study on the classification of earths and minerals, based upon their external characteristics. Very rare.

Bibliographical references: BL [B.354.(2.) & 33.b.18.(2.)]. Cobres, Deliciæ Cobresianæ, 1782: 2, 687. LKG: XII 53. Schröter's Journal für die Liebhaber: 2, 106.

5. French, 1754 [French transl.].
Ordre Naturel | Des Oursins De Mer | Et Fossiles, | Avec | Des Observations Sur Les Piquans | Des Oursins De Mer. | Et Quelques Remarques | Sur Les Bélemnites. | Par M. Theodore Klein, Secrétaire de la Ville | [...2 lines of titles and memberships...] | Avec Figures, | Augmentées de six Planches d'Oursins, qui sont dans le Cabinet de | M. de Reaumur, de l'Académie Royale des Sciences. | Ouvrage traduit du Latin, avec le Texte de l'Auteur. | [ornament] | A Paris, | Chez CI.J.B. Bauche, Libraire, à Sainte Geneviéve, | & à S. Jean dans le défert. | [double rule] | M. DCC. LIV. | Avec Approbation Et Privilege Du Roi.

8°: [4], 232, [2] p., engraved frontispiece (portrait of the author), 28 plates.

Plates: The frontispiece shows a fine portrait of Klein aged 59. He is standing in front of library shelves with the wording below: "Jacobus Theodorus Klein | Secr. Civ. Gedan. Soc. Reg. Lond. | Et Acad. Scient. Bonon. Sodalis. Æt. LIX. The portrait is signed "Maironneuve Sculps. 1764."

Scarce. Translation into French and Latin by M. de Reaumur from Naturalis Disposition Echinodermatum (Gedani, 1734). An important study on a classification system for many species of sea urchins based upon the structure of their spiny skeletons, including both living and fossil examples. One of the illustrations depicsts the Sea-Angel from Reamur's personal collection. Although, clearly not a mineralogical work, Gatterer and LKG both list this title in their bibliographies.

Bibliographical references: Gatterer, Mineralogischen Literatur, 1798-9: 2, 355. LKG: XVII 140b. Nissen (ZBI): no. 2206 [error in plate count].

6. Latin & German, 1770.
Specimen Descriptionis Petrefactorum Gedanensium cum syllabo tabularum. Probe einer Beschriebung und Abbildung der in der Danziger und umliegenien Gegend befindlichen Versteinerungen. Nürnberg, Zu finden bey denen Seeligmännischen Erten, 1770.

4°: [10], [14], 1 p., 24 colored plates.

Rare. Paleontology; Topographical - Germany, Danzig. Half-title reads: Specimen Oryctographiæ Gedanensis.

Bibliographical references: LKG: XIV 723.

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