.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Description des Plantes de l'Amerique. Paris: Imprimerie Royale, 1693.
Details
PLUMIER, Charles (1646-1704).
Description des Plantes de l'Amerique. Paris: Imprimerie Royale, 1693.
First edition of Plumier’s first botanical publication, in a contemporary binding with the arms of Louis XIV. The rare first issue with the incorrect date MDCCXIII on the title page (corrected in manuscript). Plumier made three separate expeditions to the Caribbean, in 1689, 1693, and 1695. On the first of these he accompanied physician Joseph Surian; on the last two he travelled alone as botaniste du roi. He discovered, drew, and described hundreds of new species, and left behind over 6,000 detailed drawings of West Indian plants. Many of Plumier’s generic names were adopted by Linnaeus and are still in use today, among them ‘Fuchsia’, ‘Caesalpinia’, and Magnolia. The present work, based on his second trip, was his first botanical publication. Alden & Landis 693/137; Hunt 389; Nissen BBI 1544; Sabin 63455; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 8066.
Folio (410 x 267mm). Large engraved title vignette, 108 leaves of engraved plates after drawings by Plumier (some dampstaining in upper inner corner and lower margin). Contemporary calf, gilt with the arms of Louis XIV [Olivier 2492, tools 7 and 21], spine decoratively gilt, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt (corners worn, spine chipped at head and foot, splitting to upper joint). Provenance: ‘[?]Lalermitte, Paris 1771’ (inscription on pastedown) – Benoit Vaivolet (1734-1828, botanist; bookplate, inscription on pastedown) – unidentified printed label on pastedown – taxonomic references to Linnaeus, Swartz, and Wildenow, and to Plumier’s Traité des fougeres de l’Amerique in 19th-century manuscript on plates.
Description des Plantes de l'Amerique. Paris: Imprimerie Royale, 1693.
First edition of Plumier’s first botanical publication, in a contemporary binding with the arms of Louis XIV. The rare first issue with the incorrect date MDCCXIII on the title page (corrected in manuscript). Plumier made three separate expeditions to the Caribbean, in 1689, 1693, and 1695. On the first of these he accompanied physician Joseph Surian; on the last two he travelled alone as botaniste du roi. He discovered, drew, and described hundreds of new species, and left behind over 6,000 detailed drawings of West Indian plants. Many of Plumier’s generic names were adopted by Linnaeus and are still in use today, among them ‘Fuchsia’, ‘Caesalpinia’, and Magnolia. The present work, based on his second trip, was his first botanical publication. Alden & Landis 693/137; Hunt 389; Nissen BBI 1544; Sabin 63455; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 8066.
Folio (410 x 267mm). Large engraved title vignette, 108 leaves of engraved plates after drawings by Plumier (some dampstaining in upper inner corner and lower margin). Contemporary calf, gilt with the arms of Louis XIV [Olivier 2492, tools 7 and 21], spine decoratively gilt, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt (corners worn, spine chipped at head and foot, splitting to upper joint). Provenance: ‘[?]Lalermitte, Paris 1771’ (inscription on pastedown) – Benoit Vaivolet (1734-1828, botanist; bookplate, inscription on pastedown) – unidentified printed label on pastedown – taxonomic references to Linnaeus, Swartz, and Wildenow, and to Plumier’s Traité des fougeres de l’Amerique in 19th-century manuscript on plates.
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
Brought to you by
Sophie Meadows
Senior Specialist