Beschreibung:

PALLAS, Peter Simon (1741-1811). Species Astragalorum descriptae et icones coloratis illustratae. Leipzig: G. Martini, 1800 [-1803]. [ Bound with ]: Illustrationes Plantarum imperfecte vel nondum cognitarum . Leipzig: G. Martini, 1803 [-1806]. 2 works bound in one volume, 2° (445 x 275mm). Species Astragalorum with half-title, title with hand-coloured engraved vignette, 99 hand-coloured engraved plates after C. G. H. Geissler; Illustrationes Plantarum with half-title, 59 hand-coloured engraved plates after Geissler, some quires and plates printed on blue paper. (Several plates slightly shaved or trimmed to platemark, occasional light marginal spotting.) Panelled green morocco gilt by J. Mackenzie, gilt edge (some light scuffing to lower edges of boards). Provenance : British Museum (duplicate copy, deaccession stamps dated 1831). FIRST EDITIONS of Pallas's impressive floras with attractive hand-coloured plates. An eminent naturalist and explorer, the German-born Pallas was invited to St Petersburg in 1767 by Empress Catherine the Great, becoming Professor at the Academy of Sciences. His aim was to publish a complete flora and fauna of Russia, which he partially achieved in his pioneering works on botany and zoology. They include the present monographs on the genus Astragalus (milk-vetch) and unknown plants, specimens of which were collected by Pallas on long voyages to Siberia (1768-1774) and southern Russia (1792-93). BM(NH) IV, 1505; Great Flower Books , p.124; Nissen BBI 1484, 1483; Stafleu and Cowan 7229, 7230.