Trew, Christoph Jakob

First edition, 10 parts bound in one volume, folio (547 x 375mm.), 3 mezzotint portraits (of 4, as often), 100 hand-coloured engraved plates by J.J. Haid and J.E. Haid, after Georg Dionysius Ehret, with captions highlighted in gold, recent full vellum, [Hunt, 539; Nissen BBI 1997], title-page mounted, a few repaired marginal tears here and there, especially to last plate, some marginal reinforcement to a few leaves

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

One of the greatest of the eighteenth-century botanical colour-plate books and the first book to feature colour-plate reproductions of Ehret's original drawings and paintings.

The Plantae selectae is considered by Nissen to be the finest botanical work ever printed in Germany. Dr Trew, physician at Nuremberg and amateur botanist, admired the talent and skill of his younger countryman, Georg D. Ehret, a gardener and flower painter. This work is their major collaboration, although Ehret did contribute several drawings to Trew's Hortus nitidissimis. Ehret is one of the great painters of flowering plants in the eighteenth century and all 100 plates of the Plantae selectae were painted by him.

As often with copies containing the general title, the divisional titles to the original ten parts of the work are not present.