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Reference	Citation	Reference available
Sowerby, G. B. (2nd) in Reeve, L. A. 1866-1869. Monograph of the genus Tellina. 17. Conchologia Iconica; a complete repertory of species. London. Species 1-345pp; pls 1-58 [sp. 194; pl. 34]	Figured Original Description Type Designation	request

Sowerby 2nd in Reeve, 1867:
“A very beautifully sculptured little shell.”

The collection of Rev. Thomas Lombe Taylor was considered highly by fellow conchologists and was described by G. B. Sowerby (3rd) as ‘undoubtedly the largest private collection of shells in the world’. Both Lovell Reeve and the Sowerby’s used the collection extensively for their respective works, Conchological Iconography and Thesaurus Conchyliorum. After the death of Lombe Taylor in 1874 his widow presented 446 specimens to the British Museum, of which 142 were types figured in the above works. Later, in 1879, Sowerby sold them a further 277 type and figured shells, mainly from the Sulphur and Samarang expeditions. Sowerby continued selling the collection between 1879-1880 and the remainder in his possession was auctioned at a Stevens sale in June 1880. There was a further auction of the Lombe Taylor collection many years later in 1929; this portion of the collection had been retained by Lombe Taylor’s son and was sold after his death.

J. C. Melvill purchased many Lombe Taylor shells from Sowerby, including the then exceptionally rare Conus gloriamaris, and attended the Stevens sale where he not only bought more shells, but also the cabinets and many types of J. S. Gaskoin.

The label with this specimen suggests that J. C. Melvill purchased this holotype at the Stevens sale in 1880; the specimen continued its journey to J. R. le B. Tomlin in 1919 and then to the National Museum of Wales in 1955.