PBA Galleries

5 volumes. 184; 180; 180; 207; 215 pp. Illustrated with 277 hand-finished color plates, including 156 engravings in the Michaux volumes and 121 lithographs in the Nuttall volumes; engraved portrait frontispiece in first volume; tissue guards. 10½x6¾, publishers' full brown morocco decoratively embossed on covers and spines, rebacked with modern brown morocco.

Beautiful edition of this important work on North American botany, which first appeared in Paris, 1810-1813. "It is no exaggeration to remark that it is the most complete work of its kind, and is a production of unrivalled interest and beauty" (Sabin). Michaux visited America under the auspices of the French government and was appointed to accompany a youthful Meriwether Lewis on an expedition, though probably owing to political sensitivity before the Louisiana Purchase, the expedition did not take place. His work was continued and completed by the British botanist, Thomas Nuttall, who was one of the most lovable characters in the history of early American science. Nuttall set out on extensive excursions into the West and Hawaiian Islands. He is said to have discovered more new genera and species of plants in North America than any other single scientist with the possible exception of his young contemporary, Asa Gray. The lithographs in the Nuttall volumes are numbered through 121, but the numbering skips plates 30 & 31 (also skipped in text) and two plates each are numbered "5" and "10". Bennett p.76; Reese 21; Sabin 18695, 56351.