A previously unnoticed publication by Alfred Russel Wallace has come to light concerning an important nineteenth-century natural science discussion: whether the continental and oceanic portions of the globe are permanent fixtures. Originally (and only) printed in an obscure German review magazine, it represents the only known substantial work by Wallace that never appeared in English. A translation back into English is provided in the Appendix, preceded by an analysis and discussion of some of its subject matter, especially that pertaining to nineteenth-century theories of changing ocean levels and the changing perception of the importance of land bridges versus dispersal for zoogeography.