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Details
Franois-Andr Michaux (1770-1855)
The North American Sylva, or a desciption of the forest trees of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia, Considered particulary with respect to their use in the Arts, and their introduction into Commerce. Paris: printed by C. d'Hautel [for the author and others], 1819. 2 volumes, large 8vo (263 x 172mm.) Half-titles. 156 colour-printed stipple-engraved plates, finished by hand, by Gabriel, Bessin, Renard, Cailly and others after Pancrace Bessa (92), Pierre-Joseph Redout (31), Henri-Joseph Redout (27), A. Riche (3), A. Redout (1) and 2 unsigned, uncut. (Occasional light spotting and offsetting of text onto plates as usual.) Original French publishers' paper-covered boards, the flat backstrips gilt in six compartments, green morocco lettering-pieces in the second and third, uncut (backstrips faded with small neat repairs), the two volumes contained in a single modern morocco-backed cloth box.
THE FIRST ILLUSTRATED SYLVA OF NORTH AMERICA. A good copy, in original condition, of the two-volume issue of the first edition in English of this seminal work with plates after Redout and Bessa. First published, in French, in Paris between 1810 and 1813, the Sylva (with a strong emphasis on the commercial possibilities of the species discussed) contains the results of the travels and investigations of Franois-Joseph Michaux and his father Andr, two of the greatest pioneers of the exploration of the natural history of North America. Michaux first visited America with his father in 1785 when a plantation was purchased near Charleston. His father explored the southern Appalachians, Spanish Florida, the Bahamas and the Carolina mountains. In 1790 Franois-Andr returned to France to study medicine whilst his father embarked on a further series of botanical journeys: to Canada (including Hudson's Bay), to the mid-west for 3 years, eventually returning to France in 1796. He tried unsuccessfully to raise money from the government for further exploration in America, but eventually accepted a post on Baudin's Australian expedition, leaving France in October 1800. This was the last time the younger Michaux was to see his father, who died in Madagascar in 1802. Franois-Andr was more successful in getting official backing and visited America twice more: firstly from 1801 to 1803 and finally from 1806 to 1809.
The work remained the standard text on the subject for much of the nineteenth century (until the publication of Charles Singer Sargent's Silva of North America [1891-1902]). The text includes details of where each species is to be found together with any practical uses to which the tree is put, volume two includes an interesting final section (pp.363-401), headed 'Recapitulation' with the sub-title 'of the Uses of the North American Trees': here Michaux records what uses various trades in the various states make of the various types of timber (e.g. 'Household stuff and other small objects manufactured at Hingham near Boston...Pails. the bottom is of White Pine, and the staves are of chosen pieces of the heart of the same tree. The hoops are of White Ash...they are attached by one tack of iron and two of wood...The handle is of White Oak. The pails are sold at two dollars a dozen').
The first edition contained 138 plates, the present edition was enlarged to include 156 plates from the drawings of Bessa and the Redout brothers. There are sections on the Oaks (28 plates), evergreens (Pines, Spruces and Cedars) (23 plates), Walnuts (11), Maples (8), Birches (6), Ash (7). The remaining sections include significant groupings of Magnolia, Poplar and Lime. Cf. Nissen BBI 1361 (3 vol. issue); MacPhial. Andre & Francois-Andre Michaux (The Morton Arboretum 1981) 17c; Meisel III, 381; Oak Spring Sylva 20; cf. Sabin 48694 (3 volume issue, with note re. 2 vol. issue). (2)
The North American Sylva, or a desciption of the forest trees of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia, Considered particulary with respect to their use in the Arts, and their introduction into Commerce. Paris: printed by C. d'Hautel [for the author and others], 1819. 2 volumes, large 8vo (263 x 172mm.) Half-titles. 156 colour-printed stipple-engraved plates, finished by hand, by Gabriel, Bessin, Renard, Cailly and others after Pancrace Bessa (92), Pierre-Joseph Redout (31), Henri-Joseph Redout (27), A. Riche (3), A. Redout (1) and 2 unsigned, uncut. (Occasional light spotting and offsetting of text onto plates as usual.) Original French publishers' paper-covered boards, the flat backstrips gilt in six compartments, green morocco lettering-pieces in the second and third, uncut (backstrips faded with small neat repairs), the two volumes contained in a single modern morocco-backed cloth box.
THE FIRST ILLUSTRATED SYLVA OF NORTH AMERICA. A good copy, in original condition, of the two-volume issue of the first edition in English of this seminal work with plates after Redout and Bessa. First published, in French, in Paris between 1810 and 1813, the Sylva (with a strong emphasis on the commercial possibilities of the species discussed) contains the results of the travels and investigations of Franois-Joseph Michaux and his father Andr, two of the greatest pioneers of the exploration of the natural history of North America. Michaux first visited America with his father in 1785 when a plantation was purchased near Charleston. His father explored the southern Appalachians, Spanish Florida, the Bahamas and the Carolina mountains. In 1790 Franois-Andr returned to France to study medicine whilst his father embarked on a further series of botanical journeys: to Canada (including Hudson's Bay), to the mid-west for 3 years, eventually returning to France in 1796. He tried unsuccessfully to raise money from the government for further exploration in America, but eventually accepted a post on Baudin's Australian expedition, leaving France in October 1800. This was the last time the younger Michaux was to see his father, who died in Madagascar in 1802. Franois-Andr was more successful in getting official backing and visited America twice more: firstly from 1801 to 1803 and finally from 1806 to 1809.
The work remained the standard text on the subject for much of the nineteenth century (until the publication of Charles Singer Sargent's Silva of North America [1891-1902]). The text includes details of where each species is to be found together with any practical uses to which the tree is put, volume two includes an interesting final section (pp.363-401), headed 'Recapitulation' with the sub-title 'of the Uses of the North American Trees': here Michaux records what uses various trades in the various states make of the various types of timber (e.g. 'Household stuff and other small objects manufactured at Hingham near Boston...Pails. the bottom is of White Pine, and the staves are of chosen pieces of the heart of the same tree. The hoops are of White Ash...they are attached by one tack of iron and two of wood...The handle is of White Oak. The pails are sold at two dollars a dozen').
The first edition contained 138 plates, the present edition was enlarged to include 156 plates from the drawings of Bessa and the Redout brothers. There are sections on the Oaks (28 plates), evergreens (Pines, Spruces and Cedars) (23 plates), Walnuts (11), Maples (8), Birches (6), Ash (7). The remaining sections include significant groupings of Magnolia, Poplar and Lime. Cf. Nissen BBI 1361 (3 vol. issue); MacPhial. Andre & Francois-Andre Michaux (The Morton Arboretum 1981) 17c; Meisel III, 381; Oak Spring Sylva 20; cf. Sabin 48694 (3 volume issue, with note re. 2 vol. issue). (2)