Thomas Martyn, a natural history draughtsman, was the founder of Mr Martyn’s Academy, for young men “possessing a natural genius for drawing and painting, to be cultivated under his immediate sole direction” in the art of delineating natural history. His publications are now quite rare; this volume is part of a set illustrating shells collected from voyages to the Pacific Ocean. The Royal Library's set is a 'select copy' from Martyn containing 160 hand coloured plates. It was likely presented by Martyn to George, Prince of Wales (the future George IV) for his Carlton House library.