This two-volume natural history of volcanoes and volcanic phenomena was first published in Germany in 1855 by the chemist and mineralogist Georg Landgrebe (1802–1872), and was intended for scientifically literate enthusiasts rather than for specialists. The book begins with a review of contemporary work on volcanoes, explaining the theories of Leopold von Buch and the lively international debates they had generated among scholars including Charles Lyell, George Poulett Scrope and Charles Daubeny (also reissued in this series). Volume 1 lists the world's volcanoes by region. Volume 2 begins with chapters on earthquakes and other phenomena including hot springs, mud volcanoes and oil wells. It then focuses on the minerals found in volcanic regions, giving details of their composition and structure, references to scientific work about them, and information about locations where they occur. The volume ends with a section on basalts and other rocks associated with volcanoes.