Beschreibung:

JACQUIN, Nikolaus Joseph, Baron von. Hortus Botanicus Vindobonensis, seu Plantarum rariorum, quae in Horto Botanico Vindobonensi... coluntur, icones coloratae et succinctae descriptiones . Vienna: Leopold Johann Kaliwoda (vols. I and II) and Joseph Michael Gerold (vol. III) for Nicolas Jacquin, 1770-76. 3 volumes bound in one, 2 o (475 x 288 mm). Two half-titles, three letterpress titles, two index leaves at end of vols. II and III, woodcut head-piece ornaments and initials. One hand-colored engraved plan and 300 HAND-COLORED ENGRAVED PLATES OF PLANTS, 7 folding, by Franz von Scheidel and Jacquin (blank area cropped on outer margin on a few plates, one folding plate with short tear, last 4 plates with a little pale marginal dampstaining). Modern half morocco. Provenance : Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Stickney Fund (bookplate dated 1890; stamps). FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST OF THE GREAT JACQUIN COLOR-PLATE BOOKS, containing Jacquin's illustrations of the rare plants in the botanic garden of the University of Vienna, including both ornamental and useful European and exotic plants. This splendid edition was published under the patronage of Maria Theresa. Jacquin was by this time Director of the university gardens and professor of Botany and Chemistry at the University. He was made a Baron by Franz II in 1806. Nissen characterized Jacquin's color plates, "with their sober and clean yet elegant figures" as "the most beautiful memento of the golden age of Austrian botany", and calculated that his combined publications contained a total of 3,000 botanical engravings (I, p. 184). Dunthorne 150; Great Flower Books , p. 61; Nissen BBI 973; Pritzel 4365; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 3246.