CANDOLLE, AUGUSTIN PYRAMUS DE. Plantarum historia succulentarum. Histoire des plantes grasses. Paris [1829-1837]. Fascicles 1-30 (of 31; a 32nd fascicle remained unpublished).

CANDOLLE, AUGUSTIN PYRAMUS DE. Plantarum historia succulentarum. Histoire des plantes grasses. Paris [1829-1837]. Fascicles 1-30 (of 31; a 32nd fascicle remained unpublished).

2 vols, 4to, 350 x 260 mm., unbound, the text leaves (without title-pages and indices) tipped to, and the plates individually and loosely mounted in grey paper sheets, in 2 portfolios (binding size: 485 x 340 mm.), early nineteenth-century French green half morocco gilt, broken, several plates discolored, a few with nicks at edges, lacks plate [160 bis].

181 plates, stipple engravings, printed in colors and finished by hand after PIERRE JOSEPH REDOUTÉ.

"One of the nightmares of botanical bibliography" -- Stafleu & Cowan. The first 28 fascicles were published in folio between 1798 and 1805 (100 copies), when publication ceased (due to a row between Candolle and his publisher). It was resumed, in quarto, in 1829. The present copy is apparently a re-issue of the fascicles 1-28 in quarto to accompany fascicles 29 and 30. According to Stafleu & Cowan there are hardly any identical copies. Sold not subject to return.

Dunthorne 241; Great Flower Books, p. 53; Nissen BBI 321; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 983.

Provenance: Emile Blanchard, scientific bookseller, Paris, labels -- Kenneth K. Mackenzie; Horticultural Society of New York, bookplate. (2)