Prospero

1735 · rif. 942P55 — Batavorum: Gerardum Potuliet 1735. Leather. Good Only. 8.5" by 6.5". Not Stated. A scarce copy of Prospero Alpini's pioneering work on the botany and Egypt a brilliant work this edition lavishly illustrated with detailed plates. Prospero Alpini's important and scarce work discussing the botanical life of Egypt.Illustrated with seventy-six plates. Collated bound without one plate being plate LVI. Also bound without leaf I4 a division title and T3.Register runs as 1 4 A-H4 I3 S4 T1-2 T4 V-2S4 2T2. First published in 1592 this was an influential works introducing many different botanical species to the Western world including the first known description of the coffee plant published in Europe. A pioneering work written from Alpini's notes of plants that he had personally examined which had been either cultivated in gardens or grew wild.Alpini wrote this work based on his observations made during a three year sojourn in Egypt. He was a physician and botanist from Venice and set off on his travels to Egypt in 1580. In a quarter morocco binding with marbled paper to the boards. Externally worn with rubbing to the boards and spine. Loss to the tail of the front board. Spine is faded. Light bumping to the extremities. Small damp stain to the head of the rear board. Front hinge is tender. Internally firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned and generally clean with a tide mark to the text block heavier to the first and last few pages. Good Only Gerardum Potuliet hardcover