Trilobiten weltweit. Die Welt der Dreilapper und ihr Spiegelbild in der Philatelie

(Trilobites worldwide. The world of trilobites and their reflection in philately)

Ernst, H. E. and Rudolf, F. 2002. 118 pp. Dr Friedrich Pfiel, München. ISBN 3899370031 (hardback). Euro 32, US$ 41.70.

This book on trilobite stamps is the first of a series, with companion volumes on stamps featuring ammonites and fossil fish already planned. The present volume includes illustrations of the forty-eight stamps and sheets featuring trilobites that have been issued to date, by twenty-two countries. Species from all the Palaeozoic systems are represented, with about half from the Cambrian. As well as the stamps, the authors include all known special cancellations and postal stationary illustrating trilobites. Some of these were issued alongside the stamps themselves, but many are unrelated, and were produced to promote palaeontological and geological meetings.

Following a forward by Bob Owens, there is a ten-page introduction to trilobites, covering major aspects of morphology, ontogeny and mode-of-life. Though brief, this introduction is written at undergraduate textbook level, and may be a little more technical than is really necessary in a book of this kind. Throughout, the book is set in double-column format, with German text to the left, and English to the right.

The major part of the text deals with the stamps: each is reproduced in colour, and at its original size. For each stamp or cover, details are given of the source and date of publication, and the taxonomic identity of the species concerned. The stamps are arranged by illustrated species, following the higher classification of the second edition of the Treatise. Each species has a brief systematic description, and its stratigraphical and geographical distribution are outlined. In some cases, there are notes on taxonomic matters as well. Again, in places. I found the technical content rather more advanced than necessary. The text is accompanied by colour photographs of the species represented on the stamps, or of closely related ones. The quality of these photographs is good, but more detail would have been visible in black and white photographs of whitened specimens. At the end of the systematic section, several pages are devoted to stamps and postmarks featuring illustrations of trilobites too generalized for exact determination. There are separate lists of philatelic and palaeontological references, and the book ends with a list of trilobite stamps and postmarks arranged by country of origin.

Although slim, this is a handsome book: hard-bound, nicely set, and printed on good quality paper. It is also authoritative. Ernst has a long-standing interest in philately, focused particularly on stamps with a fossil theme. Rudolf works in scientific publishing, but also publishes on trilobites in the primary literature. Given the huge popularity of philately as a pastime, and the fact that trilobites rank alongside ammonites and dinosaurs as favoured fossil groups among amateur palaeontologists, this book will find a ready market.

Alan Thomas

Earth Sciences, School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK

<a.t.thomas@bham.ac.uk>