Lot 171: PLENCK, Joseph Jacob (1738-1807). Icones Plantarum Medicinalium secundum systema Linnaei digestarum, cum enumeratione virum et usus medici, chirurgici atque diaetetici. Vienna: R. Graeffer (vol. 1-5) and A. Blumauer (vol. 6), 1788-1794.

PLENCK, Joseph Jacob (1738-1807). Icones Plantarum Medicinalium secundum systema Linnaei digestarum, cum enumeratione virum et usus medici, chirurgici atque diaetetici. Vienna: R. Graeffer (vol. 1-5) and A. Blumauer (vol. 6), 1788-1794.

6 (of 8) volumes (see below), 2o (457 x 320 mm). Engraved hand-colored title and 600 engraved plates (some folding) COLORED IN A CONTEMPORARY HAND. (A few plates trimmed closely, ink stain to title and first few leaves of vol.4). Contemporary green and brown mottled calf, spines in 7 compartments with gilt lettered red and green spine labels, last volume in half calf, but spine uniform with others (some restoration to spines and corners). Provenance: Kenneth K. Meckenzie, Horticultural Society of New York (bookplate).

FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. Plenck, a famous Austrian botanist and physician, was a professor at Ofen in Hungary, Basel and professor of botany and chemistry at the Joseph Academy, Vienna. He is best known for the above work, described by Blunt as "delightful, and very decorative in treatment" (Blunt, p. 177). During the second half of the 18th century Vienna became an important center of botanical study under the patronage of the Empress Maria Theresia, Emperor Francis I, and Joseph II. The work is dedicated to Joseph II by Plenck who worked in the style of Nikolaus Joseph Jacquin (1727-1817), the distinguished Dutch scientist and prolific author, who moved to Vienna to seek his fortune. This set is missing the seventh volume, not published until 1803 and the posthumously published unfinished eighth volume (1812, with only 58 plates) by J. L. Kerndl. VERY RARE: according to American Book Prices Current only one complete copy (Plesch-de Belder) has sold at auction in the past 30 years (also lacking the eighth volume). Blunt p.177; Dunthorne 225; Great Flower Books p.70; Nissen BBI 1536; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 8057. (6)