Botany.- Plukenet (Leonard) Opera omnia botanica, 6 vol. in 4, first

Botany.- Plukenet (Leonard) Opera omnia botanica, 6 vol. in 4, first edition, 454 engraved plates plus engraved portrait, titles, dedication and To the Reader leaves, Appendix titles and final tail-piece plate at end, some titles in red and black with vignettes, some foxing and browning, but a handsome complete copy in contemporary blind-stamped calf (not quite uniform in size), spines gilt, a little rubbed, 2 spine labels missing, some joints starting, [Henrey 305], 4to, William & John Innys, 1696-1720. *** Rarely found complete and here in a contemporary binding in entirely unsophisticated condition. This is the second issue of the first edition, comprising sheets of the original works (1691-1705) issued with a general title. This impressive labour illustrates and describes new and exotic species, many from Plukenet's herbarium which contained some 8000 plants (it was later acquired by Sir Hans Sloane and now forms part of the Sloane herbarium in the Natural History Museum). It is one of the great catalogues of plants, as evidenced by the frequency with which Linnaeus cites Plukenet.

Estimate:£2,000

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