Horae Physicae Berolinenses collectae ex symbolis virorum doctorum …

Description:

First edition. Text Latin. Scarce. An important illustrated collection of early nineteenth-century botanical and zoological papers, particularly desirable in this complete, uncut copy in original boards. Contains contributions by leading German naturalists, including Heinrich Friedrich Link, Karl Asmund Rudolphi, Friedrich Klug, Friedrich Otto, Adelbert von Chamisso, Friedrich Hornschuch, Diederich von Schlechtendal, Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg and the editor. Individual contributions are preceded by separate sectional title-pages. Of particular botanical significance is Chamisso's account of three new plant genera discovered during Kotzebue's Rurik expedition of 1815-1818, including the original description and illustration of the California poppy, Eschscholzia californica Cham. (p. 74, pl. XV), first published here in February 1820. Also included is Ehrenberg's 'De Coenogonio novo lichenum genere', introducing the lichen genus Coenogonium from material collected by Chamisso.

The plates include work by the distinguished natural history illustrators Friedrich Guimpel (1774-1839) and Jakob Sturm (1771-1848). Guimpel, a Berlin botanical artist and engraver, illustrated and engraved the plate of the California poppy. Sturm, the Nuremberg engraver, naturalist and publisher, engraved plate V, illustrating fungi and a liverwort.

The editor, Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck (1776-1858), was a German botanist, physician and natural historian. Appointed professor at the newly founded University of Bonn in 1818, he became the founding director of its botanical gardens. He also served as president of the Leopoldina Academy from 1818 until his death in 1858, playing a prominent role in the organisation and development of German natural science

Condition

Folio (344x240mm), orig. paper-covered printer's boards, paper on spine rubbed and worn at head and foot, some wear to corners, pages uncut. Vg.

Provenance: From the library of Professor Robert Thomson Leiper (1881-1969), the distinguished British helminthologist and pioneer of research into parasitic worms and their life cycles. Leiper joined the London School of Tropical Medicine in 1905, becoming the first Professor of Helminthology at the University of London. He also founded the Institute of Agricultural Parasitology and served as director of the Commonwealth Bureau of Helminthology. Printed label to front pastedown records the purchase of this copy by the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux in 1964. Also with pencil signature of R.T. Leiper to title page.