An amateur shell collector from Detroit, Mich., visited Japan in the season of 1889-90 and again in 1892, prepared a list of his findings, sending certain specimens to H. A. Pilsbry of the Academy for determination. Under Pilsbry's supervision and editorship the List of Mollusca and other forms of Marine Life collected in the Years 1889-1890, in Japan was published in 1891. Many additions and corrections were entered by Stearns, as noted in a memorandum at head of title on cover: “Corrected to Dec. 1893, for Dr. Pilsbry, showing also number of specimens obtained in addition at 2d trip, 1892.” His penciled notation at left of the name indicates the number of specimens of each species taken. R. Tucker Abbott says that these bulk specimens were sent to the Grand Rapids Museum, but from there went to the Museum of Comparative Zoology in 1937.

This annotated catalog came to Pilsbry in 1894?, then was preserved in the library's “Conchological Tracts” until 1960 when the volumes were broken up and this item archived in October of that year.