London: British Museum, 1855. Quarto, 42 uncoloured lithographs. Contemporary half morocco and marbled boards, some blemishes, top edge gilt, a presentation copy dated 1885 from P. L. Sclater to the Rev. G. R. Fisk, small neat library stamps on title page and plates, a fine copy.

John Edward Gray (1800-1875) trained as a doctor but gave up medicine in 1824 to take on the task of cataloguing the reptiles in the British Museum. He was an excellent scientist and became the Keeper of the Zoological Collections in 1840 retiring the December before his death (in March 1875). He was responsible for hiring his successor Albert Gunther.

Although three subsequent parts were published between 1870 and 1872, this first volume is the most important. The later parts do not have plates, only text illustrations.

BM(NH) p. 246; Nissen IVB 1689; Not in Wood.