1850 Scarce First Edition - Comstock's Illustrated Botany with 44 hand-colored lithographed plates.

 

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Author: Edited by J. L. Comstock, M.D. Assisted by J. C. Comstock, ESQ. 
Title: The Illustrated Botany: comprising an introduction to the natural system, a treatise on vegetable physiology, and on the botany of fossils, together with descriptions of numerous species of plants.
Publisher: New York, (no publishers), 1850. First edition.  
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9 " X 6 ". 
Pages: 384 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good Victorian gilt decorated full calf leather binding (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. All edges gilt. A rare find in any condition!
Content: Good content (tight, some toning to pages, foxing throughout - heavier on preliminary and last text pages - as shown, light staining - as shown, name of a previous owner on the second blank). 
Illustrations: Including 44 (of 50) wonderful hand-colored lithographed plates. Most of them with their original protective tissue guard.


Estimate: (Scarce with practically no other copy available worldwide). And no copy sold recently with more than 30 of the 50 hand-colored lithographed plates.

The book: Scarce and attractive First edition of Comstock's book on botany with 44 lovely hand-colored lithographed plates. Bibliography Reference: Nissen, Botany 391 (First Edition).

The author: John Lee Comstock (September 25, 1787, East Lyme, Connecticut – November 21, 1858, Hartford, Connecticut) was an American surgeon and educator, who served as a surgeon in the War of 1812. Following the war, Comstock produced numerous books on science, including works on botany, chemistry, mineralogy, natural history and physiology, targeting schools and general audiences. His books were widely used.