Beschreibung:

FORSTER, John Reinhold (1729-1798) and George (1754-1794). [SECOND VOYAGE] -- Characteres generum plantarum, quas in itinere ad insulas maris austalis . London: B. White, T. Cadell and P. Elmsly, 1776. 4 o (370 x 250 mm). 78 engraved plates (lacks last leaf with errata, some light foxing, otherwise clean). Contemporary speckled calf, elaborately gilt (spine faded, some rubbing). Provenance : unidentified armorial bookplate. FIRST EDITION. A fine, tall copy of the first botanical work to result from Cook's second voyage to the South Pacific. It records a large number of new names relating to the plants of Australasia and Polynesia and, "it has been said to be the foundation of our knowledge of New Zealand, Antarctic, and Polynesian vegetation" (Hill, p.423). Sabin 25134 (Calling for 75 plates); Pritzel 2981; Nissen BBI 644; Hill p.422-3; Mitchell Library Cook 1385; Holmes 17.