)
[COOK: SECOND VOYAGE] FORSTER, Johann Reinhold and Georg.
Beschreibungen der Gattungen von Planzen auf einer Reise nach den Inseln der Süd-See...
Stuttgart, Christoph Mantler, 1779.
Small quarto, with 18 etched plates, the plates each tipped to the fore-edge of the appropriate facing page; in fine condition in the original marbled boards, crimson & green calf labels on the spine; a very attractive copy.
First German edition of the Characteres Generum Plantarum (see catalogue number 79), detailing the Forsters' important Linnean classification of botanical discoveries made during Cook's second voyage. The Forsters, father and son, travelled as scientists on the second voyage, partly to fill Banks' unexpected absence. This German version - which contains eighteen plates although only seventeen are mentioned in the title - follows the original Latin publication which appeared as Characteres generum plantarum in London in 1776. It is one of the earliest sources for our knowledge of the plants of Australasia and Polynesia. Once again, the descriptions are by Anders Sparrman and the engravings are after drawings by Forster the younger.
The Characteres was one of the earliest publications resulting from the second voyage; the rush to get the London edition into print should probably be seen in the light of the quarrel with the Admiralty over the Forsters' claims to publishing rights for the official account of the voyage. This pre-emptive scientific publication may well have been intended to show the strength of the Forster camp.
Scientifically, the work may not be of major importance, but it is nonetheless one of the earliest sources for our knowledge of the plants of Australasia and Polynesia, has considerable significance for the history of the second voyage, and is one of a surprisingly small number of monuments to the scientific achievements of the three voyages.
Beddie, 1386; Hunt, 649; Nissen, B645; O'Reilly-Reitman, 2471; Stafleu & Cowan, 1826.
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}