Beschreibung:

Objektsbeskrivning SOWERBY, JAMES - SMITH, JAMES EDWARD (20). English Botany; or, Colored Figures of British Plants, with Their Essential Characters, Synonyms, and Places of Growth... Vol. 1-18. London (Printed for the Author, by J. Davis [and:] R. Taylor and Co.). 1790-1804. Together with SOWERBY, JAMES. English Botany. Cryptogamia. No title (probably 2nd edition). 8vo (235x140 mm.). With 2369 hand-colored engraved plates of British plants and Cryptogamia with 164 hand-coloured plates (+ the additional vol. 1, 1790 with 36 plates). All plates bound according to the systematical index, not in plate number order, with accompanying descriptions (plates with some offsetting, some occasional slight foxing, about 15-20 plates more foxed, all numbers with a handwritten number in red above; text with some notes in ink [to index in vol. I], some foxing). Contemporary green half calf, spines gilt in compartments, gilt title lettering, partly worn, rubbed and with slightly faded spines, some rubbing to covers, one volume with inner hinge partly split. Bookplates of William Clark M. D. on the pastedowns of volumes XVI-XVIII. Handwritten "synoptic index" (1 p.) before the printed text in vol. I. Cryptogamia in green cloth with gilt title on spine. Bookplate of Edward J. Sowerby. Together with volume I of English Botany (1790) containing the 36 first hand-coloured engraved plates in full calf binding (boards detached, heavily worn and rubbed). 20 volumes. Collation: 1. (1790). vi, iii-iv, (64), 90 plates (index published in 1814); 2. (1793). (2), 128 plates; 3. (1794). (2), 157 plates; 4. (1803). (2), 115 plates; 5. (1796). (2), 118 plates; 6. (1807). (2), 105 plates; 7. (1798). (2), 107 plates; 8. (1799). (2), 149 plates; 9. (1799). (2), 131 plates; 10. (1800). (2), 147 plates; 11. (1800). (2), 123 plates; 12. (1801). (2), 135 plates; 13. (1801). (2), 140 plates; 14. (1802). (2), 141 plates; 15. (1802). (2), 142 plates; 16. (1803). (2), 130 plates; 17. (1803). (2), 141 plates; 18. (1804). (2), 140 plates. English Botany. Cryptogamia (2nd edition?). 80 pp. 164 plates. Vol. 1. (1790). (4) pp. 36 plates. Not complete. Published in 36 volumes 1790-1814, with Supplements published by James de Carle Sowerby (5 vol.) 1831-66. Nissen, BBI 2225; Sitwell, Great Flower Books, p. 140. The title to vol. 1 does not bear Smith's name. First editions. James Sowerby (1757-1822), English naturalist, illustrator and mineralogist. Provenance: The consigners' family is related to James Sowerby (1757-1822) through their great grandmother, who was the daughter Charlotte Ann Sowerby (Lottie), later married Bryant. The family's grandmother later bought this work in London in the 1920's.