Plantarum historiae universalis Oxoniensis seu Herbarum distributio nova per tabulas cognationis & affinitatis ex libro naturae observata & detecta.

2 (of 3) vol., folio: [26]-617-[3-1 bl.], [2]-657-[9] pp. (faint dampstaining esp. in the lower margins of 1st vol., some browning).

Cont. calf, gilt ruled border on covers with sm. gilt acorns in the corners, gilt orn. spines on 7 raised bands, gilt inside dentelles, red edges (corners bumped, joints splitting). Good copy, impressive bindings.

Very rare later Oxford edition (first 1672) with new title pages of this botanical masterpiece by the Scottish botanist and taxonomist R. Morison (1620-1683), director of the Royal Gardens at Blois and superintendent of all the royal gardens in England. Present here are parts two and three complete with all illustrations. Part one (concerning trees and shrubs) was never published (cfr Nissen, Brunet, Graesse) but is in some cases replaced by another work of the same author publ. in 1672 under the title "Plantarum umbelliferarum distributio nova" containing 20 pls, which explains the amount of pls in Nissen. Our copy is illustrated with an engr. vign. on title, an author's portrait and 292 (126, 166) full-page engravings mostly along with the coats-of-arms of English aristocracy who often were members of the medical and pharmacy societies in 17th c. London, under the auspices of which the plates were engraved. Titles in red & black. Ref. ESTC N20793. - Nissen (BBI) 1413 (calls for 312 pls). - Pritzel 6464 (no mention of number of pls). - Graesse IV:609 (ed. 1680-99, mentions 126 and 166 pls). - Brunet III:1908. - Madan, F., Oxford books: a bibliography of printed works relating to the University and City of Oxford or printed or published there, 2917 ("Plantarum umbelliferarum") & 3271 ("Plantarum historia"). -  Bn-Opale plus. - COPAC. Prov. Goblet d'Alviella (bookpl.).