R15,000 - R30,000
Burman - RARIORUM AFRICANARUM PLANTARUM
Joannis Burmanni [Johannes Burman]
RARIORUM AFRICANARUM PLANTARUM
Amsterdam: Henricum Boussiere, 1738 - 1739
FIRST EDITION, 4to, 10 books in one volume, Latin, Prima: viii + 1-22, Secundu: [4] + 27-46, Tertia: [4] + 51-73 + 80-81 + 76, Quarta: [4] + 81, 88-89 + 84-85 + 92-93 + 88 -106, Quinta: [4] + 109-142, Sexta: 145-150 + [4] + 151-167, Septima: [4] + 169-193, Octava: [4] + 195-228, Nona: [4] + 233-246, Decima: [4] + 251-268, [2] index pp, 100 plates of which all in Tertia, Quarta, Quinta and Sexta contemporaneously laid down; full calf
Front board loose, wear on and along edges of boards and spine, back hinge repaired, title on spine torn, head- and tailcap absent, bookplate on ep, previous owner's name and pencil note on ffep, pencil note on back ep, long ink note on second fep, damp stains along extreme outer edges of prelims and endlims, 3cm tear from hinge into title page, foxing, plates aged toned with offsetting on facing pages, pencil notes on four pages and one plate; Tertia and Quarta: page numbers incorrect due to printing error
One of the first books entirely devoted to South African flora, especially plants from the Cape of Good Hope area. The nomenclature may seem unfamiliar since it is pre-Linnean, but the plants, although slightly abstracted, are easily recognizable from the 100 illustrations. These engravings are based on original drawings and water colours made at the Cape. Most of these were likely by Hendrik Claudius of Breslau who arrived in the Cape in 1682 and he also accompanied Simon van der Stel on his expedition to Namaqualand (1685-86). Nicolaas Witsen, Burgomaster of Amsterdam and later director of the VOC, received copies of the Claudius drawings to include in his extensive collection. In 1706 this collection passed into the care of the Professor of Botany at Amsterdam Athenaeum, Casper Commelin, and he was the first to refer to the Witsen Codex. After his death, custody of the collection passed to his successor Johannes Burman. This gift resulted in Burman’s Rariorum Africanarum Plantarum.
LITERATURE
Gordon-Brown, A, Pictorial Africana, Cape Town: A A Balkema, 1975
Gunn, M & Codd, L E, Botanical Exploration of Southern Africa, Cape Town: A A Balkema, 1981
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