Details
MILLER, PHILIP (1691-1771). Figures of the most Beautiful, Useful, and Uncommon Plants described in The Gardeners' Dictionary... To which are added, Their Descriptions, and an Account of the Classes to which they belong. London: printed for the Author, and sold by John Rivington, A. Millar, et al., [1755-]1760.
2 volumes in one, 2° (420 x 260 mm). 299 (of 300) hand-colored engraved plates, many printed in green or sepia with added hand-coloring, by John Miller, Thomas Jefferys, and J. Mynde, after Georg Ehret, John Miller, Richard Lancake, J. Bartram, and W. Houston, plate 222 large and folding, engraved headpiece vignette by and after Miller, woodcut headpiece and factotum initial. (Lacks folding plate 295, "Arum", folding plate 222 slightly worn at fold and with marginal repairs not affecting image, unobtrusive small repair to pl. 294, upper platemark of pl. 180 cropped, a few other minor marginal repairs, pl. 221 lightly creased, some offsetting and showthrough, about 5 plates slightly stained from inserted plant specimens.) Contemporary English mottled calf, spine gilt, morocco lettering-piece (extremities worn, spine ends chipped, joints split). Provenance: M.H., pencilled initials on front free endpaper.
FIRST EDITION. Miller explains in his preface that his ambitious original plan had been to "exhibit the Figures of One or more Species of all the known Genera of Plants ", but that he was quickly obliged by the expenses of production to "contract his Plan, and confine it to those Plants only, which are either curious in themselves, or may be useful in Trades, Medicine, &c., including the Figures of such new Plants as have not been noticed by any former Botanists" (page v). The work was published in 50 parts containing 6 plates each; among the plates whose sources are identified are 16 plates after drawings by Ehret, and 2 plates of Mexican and West Indian plants collected by the plant collector William Houston. Dunthorne 209; Great Flower Books, p. 68; Henrey 1097; Hunt 566; Nissen 1378; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 6059.
2 volumes in one, 2° (420 x 260 mm). 299 (of 300) hand-colored engraved plates, many printed in green or sepia with added hand-coloring, by John Miller, Thomas Jefferys, and J. Mynde, after Georg Ehret, John Miller, Richard Lancake, J. Bartram, and W. Houston, plate 222 large and folding, engraved headpiece vignette by and after Miller, woodcut headpiece and factotum initial. (Lacks folding plate 295, "Arum", folding plate 222 slightly worn at fold and with marginal repairs not affecting image, unobtrusive small repair to pl. 294, upper platemark of pl. 180 cropped, a few other minor marginal repairs, pl. 221 lightly creased, some offsetting and showthrough, about 5 plates slightly stained from inserted plant specimens.) Contemporary English mottled calf, spine gilt, morocco lettering-piece (extremities worn, spine ends chipped, joints split). Provenance: M.H., pencilled initials on front free endpaper.
FIRST EDITION. Miller explains in his preface that his ambitious original plan had been to "exhibit the Figures of One or more Species of all the known Genera of Plants ", but that he was quickly obliged by the expenses of production to "contract his Plan, and confine it to those Plants only, which are either curious in themselves, or may be useful in Trades, Medicine, &c., including the Figures of such new Plants as have not been noticed by any former Botanists" (page v). The work was published in 50 parts containing 6 plates each; among the plates whose sources are identified are 16 plates after drawings by Ehret, and 2 plates of Mexican and West Indian plants collected by the plant collector William Houston. Dunthorne 209; Great Flower Books, p. 68; Henrey 1097; Hunt 566; Nissen 1378; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 6059.