| STERNBERG, K. M. VON. Versuch einer geognostisch-botanischen Darstellung der Flora der Vorwelt. Leipzig & Prag, in Kommission im Deutschen Museum..., 1820-1838. Folio (360 x 240mm). 8 parts (bound in one volume). pp. 24, 33, ( 1, errata); 39, (1); xlii; 48, (8); (2), 1-79, (1); (2, title), 81-220; lxxi, (1), with one lithographed frontispiece and 136 (126 fine handcoloured) lithographed plates. Contemporary marbled boards, spine with red gilt lettered label. (USD $ 16,300) EUR 13.000 First edition of this great classic on paleobotany and the most beautifully illustrated early work on fossil plants. Complete copies of this splendidly illustrated work are a great rarity. The present copy includes the 'Tentamen florae primordialis praemonenda' and the 'Skizzen zur vergleichenden phytotomie'. The work was published in 8 parts and is according to Stafleu 'the starting point for the nomenclature of fossil plants'. Maria Kaspar von Sternberg was stimulated by Faujas de Saint Fond to study fossil plants. "Schlotheim had in 1804 laid the ground-work of a knowledge of fossil plants, and Count von Sternberg worthily continued these pioneer labours. His chief work 'Versuch einer...' describes two hundred fossil species of plants, and is illustrated by... splendid folio plates. Sternberg tried to insert the fossil species into the botanical system of existing floras, applied names correspondingly to fossil species, and discarded the old names under which the fossil forms had been known. He accompished much for the proper botanical significance of fossil floras, and paved the way for a scientific treatment of palaeophytology" (Zittel). Stafleu & Cowan 10.022; Junk Rara 183; Nissen BBI, 1897 (quoting the wrong number of plates).
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