Books

8vo (203 x 125 mm). [6], 362 pp. Engraved frontispiece portrait of the author engraved by I. M. Bernigeroth, 9 engraved plates, and 2 full-page woodcuts in text. Contemporary panelled calf, spine with 5 raised bands richly gilt in compartments and gilt lettering piece (boards and extremities rubbed, corners slightly bumped), marbled pastedowns. Internally somewhat evenly browned throughout, faint dampstaining to outer margin of a few leaves. Provenance: Svante Wennergren (signed on rear flyleaf), further (illegible) ownership signatures to front flyleaf and title. Rare with the engraved frontispiece portrait. ---- Sparrow; Milestones of Science 135; Soulsby 437; Hulth 72; D.S.B. VIII, p.376. FIRST EDITION. "Continuing his study on the classification of plants, Linnaeus published Philosophica botanica in 1751. In this he attempted to organize a natural system based on structure, but this work was never completed" (Sparrow). "In 1751 he published Philosophies botanica, his most influential work but actually only an expanded version of Fundamenta botanica. In it Linnaeus dealt with the theory of botany, the laws and rules that the botanist must follow in order to describe and name the plants correctly and to combine them into higher systematic categories." (DSB). The plates have also been used in "Hortus Cliffortianus".The engraved portrait, which was supplied to only a few copies, is present in this copy. - Visit our website to see more images!.