Lot 70: REGNAULT, Nicolas Francois (1746-ca 1810) and Geneviève de Nagis REGNAULT (1746-1892). La Botanique mise la portée de tout le Monde: ou collection des Plantes d'usage dans la Medecine, dans les Alimens et dans les Arts . Paris: Published by the

REGNAULT, Nicolas Francois (1746-ca 1810) and Geneviève de Nagis REGNAULT (1746-1892). La Botanique mise la portée de tout le Monde: ou collection des Plantes d'usage dans la Medecine, dans les Alimens et dans les Arts. Paris: Published by the Author and Didot le jeune, 1774. 4 volumes, large 2o (490 x 368 mm). 2 engraved titles, 419 (of 472) hand-colored engraved plates by or after the Regnaults (including 3 plates of botanical details numbered I-III, and 416 unnumbered plates), and engraved "Introduction à la Botanique" in Vol. I, 7 manuscript indicies of plates. (Lacking 2-page letterpress "Table des Noms des Plantes", a few marginal notes or small stains, plate one in Vol. I trimmed shorter, a few short marginal tears). Later half cloth, marbled boards, red morocco gilt lettering pieces on spine (rubbed, a few hinges cracked or starting, corners bumped). FIRST EDITION OF 'PERHAPS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FRENCH BOTANICAL BOOK OF THE PERIOD' (Blunt & Stearn [1994] p.171). The authors concentrated on plants that were useful, initially limiting the work to plants with medical uses, but eventually including edible plants and others of a wider use to man. The vast majority of the plates were drawn from life and a significant number are printed in brown. All show the subject plant, with a section of root and details of flowers and fruits, and underneath each image an identification by their common names, in as many European languages as possible. The facing single page of text includes an identification of plant according to the classification systems of Linnaeus, Tournefort and Adanson, a botanical description of the plant followed by its uses, then general comments including historical references. Blunt & Stearn, p.171; Cleveland Collections 517, HA Copy 2 this copy; Dunthorne 256; Great Flower Books, (1990), p.131; Nissen BBI 1600; Pritzel 7475; Stafleu-Cowan TL2 8810. (4)