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MARTYN, Thomas (1735--1825)
Thirty-eight plates, with explanations; intended to illustrate Linnæus's system of vegetables, and particularly adapted to the letters on the elements of botany.
London (Place), printed for J. White,, 1799.
vi, 72, [2] p., XXXVIII hand-col. pl. ; 20.6 cm. (8º)

The work was first published in 1788 and subsequently reissued in 1794, 1799 and 1817. The copperplates are coloured and were executed by the botanic painter and engraver, Frederick Polydore Nodder. They are dated: 'May 1, 1788' and bear the imprint: 'By B. White & Son'. Six of the 'Letters' were partly translated from Rousseau's Lettres élémentaires sur la botanique; the others were written by Martyn. Plates 1 to 34 with 1 text leaf to each plate, plates 35 to 38 one text page to each plate. Two pages of publisher's advertisements at the end. ESTC t81068; Henrey 1032.

Copy Notes Bought from J. Williams for £1 0s. 0d., 23 April 1832. (Spiers Box, Loose bills). A duplicate of the accompanying text to pl. XXIX ('Viola odorata') printed on finer paper is loosely inserted to face the plate. With an unsigned, uncaptioned botanical drawing in watercolour (watermark 'C WILMOTT / 1805') tipped-on to precede the title-page, protected by a tissue-guard. Inscribed in ink on first pastedown No 55 No 62.

Binding C19th Spanish-style marbled calf, gilt-ruled inner and outer borders with small gilt-tooled corner ornaments, gilt-tooled spine, black morocco spine-label, marbled endpapers.

Reference Number 3981

Additional Names J.$Williams; Linné, Carl von (1707--1778); Rousseau, Jean-Jacques (1712--1778). Lettres élémentaires sur la botanique; Linnaeus, Carl


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