5 volumes. 184; 180; 180; 207; 215 pp. Illustrated with 276 hand-finished color plates, including 156 engravings in the Michaux volumes and 120 lithographs in the Nuttall volumes; tissue guards. 10¼x6½, period half-morocco and marbled boards, spines gilt-lettered, all edges gilt.

Beautiful edition of this important work on North American botany, which first appeared in Paris, 1810-1813. "It is no exaggeration to remark that it is the most complete work of its kind, and is a production of unrivalled interest and beauty" (Sabin). Michaux visited America under the auspices of the French government and was appointed to accompany a youthful Meriwether Lewis on an expedition, though probably owing to political sensitivity before the Louisiana Purchase, the expedition did not take place. His work was continued and completed by the British botanist, Thomas Nuttall, who was one of the most lovable characters in the history of early American science. Nuttall set out on extensive excursions into the West and Hawaiian Islands. He is said to have discovered more new genera and species of plants in North America than any other single scientist with the possible exception of his young contemporary, Asa Gray. The beautiful plates in the Michaux volumes, according to the translator's preface, were printed from the original French copperplates. Nearly all of them are signed by either Pancrace Bessa or by one of the Redoutes. The lithographs in the Nuttall volumes are numbered through 121, but the numbering skips plates 30 & 31 (also skipped in text) and two plates are numbered "5". Sabin 18695, 56351.