Weinmann, Johann Wilhelm

LARGE PAPER COPY, 8 volumes (4 of text and 4 of plates), folio (text: 428 x 257mm., plates: 445 x 255mm.), title-pages printed in red and black, engraved printer's device on title-pages, engraved headpiece at start of dedication, woodcut initials, head-and tailpieces, list of subscribers at start of volume 1, 1025 engraved and mezzotint plates (plates 227, 354, 442-446, 448, 453, 500, 518, 737, 761 and 911 double-page), printed in colours and finished by hand, contemporary half calf of uniform height, patterned paper boards, untrimmed, plates 211, 218 and 791 with some paper adhering to the paint from verso of preceding plate, bindings slightly rubbed, small tear at head of spine of text volume 3 and at foot of spine of plate volume 3

Nissen BBI 2126; Cleveland Herbal 419; Dunthorne 327

text volume 1: lower corner of O1 repaired, a few lower corners slightly damp-stained, occasional very light spotting text volume 3: small tear at head of spine text volume 4: small tear at foot of P2 plate vol 1: small tear at foot of plate 101, plates 211 and 218 with some paper offset onto paint from verso of previous plate, small stain in margin of plate 230 plate vol 2: small damp-stain on foredge for first half of volume plate vol 3: small tear at foot of plate 722, small stain at foot of plate 774, last few plates slightly creased at foot, foot of spine slightly torn plate vol 4: plate 791 with some paper from previous page adhering to paint
"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."

A FINE UNTRIMMED AND CRISP COPY. This is a translation into Dutch of Weinmann's Phytanthoza iconographia (Regensburg, 1737-1745), employing the same plates, which was "the first botanical book to use colour-printed mezzotint successfully" (Hunt, p.160). The first edition was issued in parts, and this Dutch version by the renowned botanist Jan Burman began to appear soon after (the first text and plate volumes here are dated 1739, and the remaining volumes all 1748).

Weinmann's magnificent publication certainly represents a technical and artistic advance on its precursors, Martyn’s Historia plantarum rariorum (1728) and the Society of Gardeners' Catalogus plantarum (1730). It also contains Georg Dionysius Ehret’s first published (though unsigned) botanical illustrations; Ehret served his apprenticeship as a botanical draughtsman under Weinmann who exploited him mercilessly, paying him a pittance for the several hundred drawings he did for the Phytanthoza, leading to a rift between the two men. The engraving was done by Bartolomäus Seuter, Johann Ridinger and Johann Jakob Haid, who also engraved Ehret’s plates for Trew’s Plantae selectae.