Miller, John

Folio (533 x 355mm.), engraved frontispiece, engraved title, 104 hand-coloured engraved botanical specimen plates (all printed before letters, most printed in brown), 4 hand-coloured engraved plates of leaf forms with imprints and letters, all by and after Miller, early nineteenth-century green morocco gilt, [Dunthorne 206; Great Flower Books, p.68; Henrey 3:1153 and cf. 1154; Nissen BBI 1372; Stafleu TL2 6482], without the 2-page errata, and the uncoloured suite of plates (see below), a few text leaves spotted, binding neatly rebacked and with new marbled endpapers added in about 1900

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An “immense work of botany wherein the pencil of Miller illustrated, in a style of unprecedented elegance, the sexual system of Linnaeus” (J.C. Lettsom, The Memoirs of John Fothergill, [1789], p.106). The work was originally issued in twenty parts between 1770 and 1777, and 105 copies were ordered by 85 individuals. The plates were issued in coloured and uncoloured states (with only the coloured present here). Once the subscriptions had been filled, there were evidently sets of surplus text and coloured plates: this is supported by Henrey, who records a copy of the work in the Natural History Museum in which there is a new 1794 title page. This re-set title accompanies a suite of the coloured plates made up from what appears to be "the surplus of the plates of the [1770-]1777 edition" (Henrey 3:95). The 1810 watermark on the front blank of the present copy suggests that it was perhaps made up from this surplus, but with a spare original title as well - if this is the case, then the lack of the uncoloured plates is unsurprising.