Beschreibung:

PLATE BOOK-FLORA] DILLENIUS, J. J. Horti Elthamensis seu Plantarum Rariorum quas in horto suo Elthami in Cantio, in Horto... Jacobi Sherard... Guilielmi P.M. Frater, Delineationes... London Sumptibus Auctoris, 1732. The first edition, [one of 250 sets]. Two volumes, 19th century half calf with marbled sides, vellum corners, spine in seven compartments. 17 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches (45 x 27 cm); [iii]-viii pp. [lacking half-title], 1-206 pp.; [ii, the section title], 207-437 pp., [i] p. errata; 324 numbered engraved plates, plus one unnumbered bis plate bound in at the end of the first volume, for a total of 325 as called for. Neatly rebacked retaining original spine, the joints worn but holding. Some age toning, especially in the first volume, but overall a clean set, with the near contemporary inscription of R.A. Hedwig (Romanus Adolf Hedwig, 1772-1806, a botanist, the son of the German bryologist Johann Hedwig) dated 1799 the titles of both volumes, as well as the bookplate of a later owner, Ashton Allis. This work is considered "the most important book to be published in England during the eighteenth century on the plant growing in a private garden" (Henrey), as well as a major work for the pre-Linnaean taxonomy of South African plants. Johann Jacob Dillenius--originally Dillen--(1684-1747) was a German botanist from Darmstadt, who was brought to England in 1721 by William Sherard to help with the latter's projected revision of Caspar Bauhin's "Pinax" of 1623 About this time, William Sherard's brother James, who had a flourishing medical practice in London, purchased a country estate at Eltham in Kent. William spent a good deal of time on the property and, assisted by Dillenius, built it up into one of the leading gardens in England. When William died in 1728 he endowed a chair of botany at Oxford with the proviso that Dillenius should be the first incumbent. He also left his herbarium, library and manuscript to the University. At the insistence of James Sherard, Dillenius embarked on an account of the more interesting plants growing at Eltham, with the result that he did not take up residence at Oxford until 1734. This is the resulting work, with the plates drawn and engraved with great fidelity by Dillenius himself. Many South African plants are illustrated, particularly succulents, including an almost complete coverage of the 'Mesembryanthemums' then known in cultivation. The illustrations are important in typifying many Linnaean names and, unlike Bradley, Dillenius made herbarium specimens, which are preserved in the herbarium of the Botany Department, Oxford' (text taken from Gunn & Godd, Botanical exploration of South Africa pp. 63-4). Dillenius's name was memorialized by Linnaeus in the genus "Dillenia," a genus of Australian and Asian evergreen plants. Henrey 643; Great Flower Books p. 55; Nissen BBI, 492; Stafleu & Cowan 1471. C