JACQUIN, N.J.

Florae Austriacae, sive plantarum selectarum in Austriae Archiducatu sponte crescentium, icones ad vivum coloratae, et descriptionibus, ac synonymis illustratae.

Eur 48,000 / USD 52,800
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Viennae, L.J. Kaliwoda (& J.M. Gerold), 1773-1778. 5 volumes. Folio (470 x 285mm). With 5 large handcoloured engraved title-vignettes (views) and 500 handcoloured engraved plates and 1 plain plate. Contemporary half russia, gilt lettered and ornamented spines, marbled sides (some skilful repairs to spines).

a monument of the grand Austrian botanical era which royal patronage made possible

First and only edition of Jacquin's rare flora of Austria, containing fine plates by his principal artist, Franz von Scheidl. It is a monument of the grand Austrian botanical era which royal patronage made possible. This work and Waldstein & Kitaibel's flora are the only two 'great flower books' devoted to the Austrian flora. Blunt describes it as ranking with the 'Flora Danica', 'Flora Graeca' and 'Flora Londinensis' as the finest books dealing with the wild flowers of a European country.

The work was subsidised by the Imperial court, and printed on their presses. Jacquin (1727-1817) was born in Holland of French parents. "He went to Vienna in 1752 to complete his medical study and was soon involved in organising a botanical collecting expedition for the Emperor Francis I, husband of Empress Maria Theresa. This expedition lasted from 1754 to 1759 and sent back a very rich collection from the West Indies to the gardens of the Imperial Summer Palace at Schönbrunn. In 1768, Jacquin became Director of the University Gardens in Vienna and Professor of Botany ... posts he held until his retirement in 1797. (Rix, The art of the Botanist p. 158). A very fine copy of noble provenance.

Provenance: Armorial bookplate of Henry Rogers Broughton.

Great Flower Books 61; Nissen BBI, 971.