Pursh, Frederick

Illustration: 24 stipple-engraved plates, 8 folding (numbered 8–9, [1], 5–7, 10–16, 2–4, 17–22, 24, 23).  

2 volumes in 1, 8vo (8 1/8 x 5 in.; 206 x 126 mm). Binding: Nineteenth-century half green morocco gilt, marbled paper boards, spine gilt in six compartments. 



Some browning and foxing to text (especially to vol. 2), expert minor repair along fore-edge of title-page in vol. 2, with small marginal loss to subsequent leaf (B1), lacking the 3 advertising leaves found in some copies; very occasional and minor spotting to plates, wear to upper right corner of plate [1] affecting the numbering. Extremities slightly rubbed. 

Cleveland Collections 776; Nissen 1570; Pritzel 7370; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 8404

Some browning and foxing to text (especially to vol. 2), expert minor repair along fore-edge of title-page in vol. 2, with small marginal loss to subsequent leaf (B1), lacking the 3 advertising leaves found in some copies; very occasional and minor spotting to plates, wear to upper right corner of plate [1] affecting the numbering. Extremities slightly rubbed.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

First edition of the first North American Flora to include plants from the Pacific Coast.

Pursh, a German botanist, came to America in 1799 as a traveler, collector, gardener, and landscape artist. From 1803 until about 1805, he was in charge of William Hamilton's estate near Philadelphia before becoming employed in the botanizing expeditions of Benjamin Smith Barton. From 1809 to 1810 he headed Hosack's Elgin Botanic Garden in New York. In 1811 Pursh traveled to England where he produced his Flora under the patronage of A. B. Lambert, to whom the work is dedicated. Pursh relied upon the Lewis and Clark specimens entrusted to M'Mahon for many of his descriptions of the Pacific coast plants; he also consulted some forty-one other botanical collections for his research. William Hooker, the artist of Salisbury's Paradisus Londinensis was responsible for a good portion of both the drawings and engravings. Printing of the Flora Americae Septentrionalis was completed in late 1813, as the Linnaean Society possesses a presentation copy dated 21 December 1813.