Details
SLOANE, Hans (1660-1753). Catalogus plantarum quae in insula Jamaica sponte proveniunt ... quae in insulis Maderae, Barbados, Nieves & Sancti Christophori nascuntur. London: D. Brown, 1696.
Small 4o (158 x 100 mm). [12], 232, [44]. (Without half-title or A1 dedication leaf, as for the second issue, some leaves closely trimmed, with some headlines shaved). 19th-century red half morocco, marbled boards. Provenance: ?Tillei Robert (presentation inscription by the author on the title-page, "Liber Tillei Robert ex dono Authoris," shaved).
FIRST EDITION, second issue, PRESENTATION COPY of Sloane's important record of Jamaican flora, and the author's first book. Sloane went to Jamaica in 1687 as physician to Chrisopher Monck, second Duke of Albermarle and Governor of Jamaica, and collected plants on his return to England after the Duke's death in 1688. John Ray wrote of the work in Philosophical Transactions, "The author of this catalogue doth not present the reader with titles of plants collected out of other mens writings, or of which he had seen only dryed specimens, but of such great multitude as himself saw growing in their native places: among which there are a great multitude of new and non-descript species" (quoted in Henrey). The work was also praised by Linnaeus. Sloane would later become secretary of the Royal Society and founder of the botanic gardens.
The work exists in two issues, of which this is the second, without (with half-title on the recto and license of the Royal Society on the verso) and without the dedication leaf on A1 addressed to the Royal Society and the College of Physicians. These were cancelled due to the printer's error in giving precedence to the Royal Society over the College of Physicians. Alden & Landis 696/201; Cleveland Collections 302; Henrey 1.345; Pritzel 8722; Sabin 82166; Stafleu-Cowan 12103; Wing S-3998. A FINE PRESENTATION COPY.
Small 4
FIRST EDITION, second issue, PRESENTATION COPY of Sloane's important record of Jamaican flora, and the author's first book. Sloane went to Jamaica in 1687 as physician to Chrisopher Monck, second Duke of Albermarle and Governor of Jamaica, and collected plants on his return to England after the Duke's death in 1688. John Ray wrote of the work in Philosophical Transactions, "The author of this catalogue doth not present the reader with titles of plants collected out of other mens writings, or of which he had seen only dryed specimens, but of such great multitude as himself saw growing in their native places: among which there are a great multitude of new and non-descript species" (quoted in Henrey). The work was also praised by Linnaeus. Sloane would later become secretary of the Royal Society and founder of the botanic gardens.
The work exists in two issues, of which this is the second, without (with half-title on the recto and license of the Royal Society on the verso) and without the dedication leaf on A1 addressed to the Royal Society and the College of Physicians. These were cancelled due to the printer's error in giving precedence to the Royal Society over the College of Physicians. Alden & Landis 696/201; Cleveland Collections 302; Henrey 1.345; Pritzel 8722; Sabin 82166; Stafleu-Cowan 12103; Wing S-3998. A FINE PRESENTATION COPY.
Special notice
Tax exempt.