Jacob Breyne | Exoticarum aliarumque minus cognitarum plantarum centuria prima, Gdansk, [1674]-78, contemporary calf

Jacob Breyne

Exoticarum aliarumque minus cognitarum plantarum centuria prima. Gdansk: David-Fridericus Rhetius, [1674]-1678

FIRST EDITION, folio (355 x 225mm.), engraved additional title, printed title with engraved vignette, 9 engravings in the text, 101 engraved plates (plate 92 folding and on two leaves), with Appendix, contemporary panelled calf, minor marginal worming at beginning

A FINE COPY of an important and finely-illustrated record of exotic plants from the Americas, the East Indies, and South Africa. The engraving was done by Isaac Saal from drawings by Andreas Stech and S. Cousins. As with other copies, a contemporary inscription “nec non Illustris: Holland: atque West: Fris: ordinum”, signed by Breyne, is at the foot of the title vignette, being an extension of the licence to include the Netherlands and West Friesland.

LITERATURE:

Nissen BBI 232; Stafleu TL2 751

PROVENANCE:

John Rolle, 1st Baron Rolle (1750-1842), engraved armorial bookplate; Lord Rolle, with his second wife Louisa Trefusis (1794-1855), created the famous gardens at Bicton in Devon now the Bicton Park Botanical Gardens; he was also a great improver of his native county Devon building amongst other things Royal Canal, The Royal Quay and the sea wall at Exmouth