WEINMANN, Johann Wilhelm (1683-1741). Phytanthoza iconographia; sive Conspectus aliquot millium, tam indigenarum quam exoticarum, ex quatuor mundi partibus, longa annorum serie indefessoque studio ... collectarum plantarum, arborum, fruticum, florum fructuum, fungorum. Text by J.G.N. Dietrichs, L.M. Dietrichs, and A.K. Bieler. Regensburg: Hieronymus Lentzen [volume IV: Heinrich Georg Neubauer], 1735-1737-1745.

4 volumes, 2° (462 x 284mm), together with a 5th volume containing index and foreword (444 x 278mm), LARGE-PAPER COPY, Latin title-page to index, Latin and German titles in other volumes, all printed in red and black, foreword by Albrecht Haller in German only, parallel text in double column and indices in both languages. 2 mezzotint portraits printed in blue by Haid after Hirschmann of Weinmann and Bieler, mezzotint in blue of Allegorical Flora by Haid after Baumgartner, 1025 engraved and mezzotint botanical plates by B. Seuter, J.E. Ridinger and Haid after G.D. Ehret, N. Asamin and others, all printed in colour and finished by hand, 14 of which double-page. (Fore-edge of Latin title in vol. I remargined probably at the time, title to index with old repaired tear without loss, a few other plates with very minor marginal tears, pls 207 and 208 with old, large marginal repairs at gutter, pl. 895 with old, large repair to verso without loss, approx. 20 plates at end of vol. II with minor marginal worming repaired, some faint scattered spotting and soiling.) 4 volumes in contemporary pigskin over wooden boards, spines in 7 compartments with 6 raised bands, vellum gilt lettering pieces, paper library labels, clasps, blue edges, the index volume in matching half pigskin over decorative paper-covered boards (extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance: Ettal Abbey (central blindstamps on covers) -- Monastery of St Joseph of the Servite Order, Innsbruck (ink ownership inscriptions dated 1825 to Latin title-pages.

A MAGNIFICENT LARGE-PAPER COPY OF WEINMANN'S MAGNUM OPUS. This is a full record of the flowers, fruit and vegetables cultivated in the early 18th century, based on Weinmann's own collection, and guided by the hand of Georg Dionysius Ehret. The artist parted with Weinmann after producing 500 designs in a year and receiving only twenty thaler for his work, and his name was expunged from the plates as a result of this quarrel between artist and patron. However, his artistic inspiration is evident throughout the series, and the plates became an important source for copyists, appearing in designs for Meissen porcelain. Many plates are 'of particular interest on account of the colour printing, especially the plates of Aloes and Cactus depicted in pots of different designs, and the folding plates of gourds' (Dunthorne). THE FIRST COMPLETE EDITION OF ONE OF THE EARLIEST WORKS TO USE COLOUR-PRINTING FROM A SINGLE PLATE.

The work was issued in parts, and in more than one issue, and the make-up of the preliminary leaves and indices is known to vary between copies. Arnold Arboretum p. 738 (with an additional French title-page in vol. I); BM(NH) V, 2285; Brunet II, 704 (under Dietrichs); Dunthorne 327; Great Flower Books (1990) p.151; Cleveland Collections 388; Nissen BBI 2126; Pritzel 10140; Stafleu-Cowan TL2 17050.

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