SCHRANK, Franz von Paula von (1747-1835). Flora Monacensis seu plantae sponte circa Monachium nascentes. Munich: venditur in Instituto Lithographico Scholae Festivalis (vols. I & II) et apud editorem Jo. Nep. Mayrhoffer (vols. III & IV), 1811-1818. 4 volumes, large broadsheets (480 x 395mm). Lithographic dedication to Princess Theresa of Bavaria, lithographic portraits of Mayrhoffer and Schrank, 400 FINE HAND-COLOURED PLATES PAINTED AND LITHOGRAPHED BY JOHANN NEPOMUK MAYRHOFFER. (Most text leaves in vols. I - III somewhat spotted, portraits slightly creased, some plates slightly browned or spotted, title and first text leaf in vol. II slightly creased, additionally the title has small tears at the inner margin, two small tears to blank margin of text leaf 237 in vol. III). Contemporary German mottled sheep, thin gilt border on covers enclosing a large central inset marbled paper panel, the spine covered with a later onlaid English calf backstrip, in seven compartments, two with onlaid light-brown or dark-blue lettering-pieces, the others with overall repeat pattern in gilt (volumes I - III), volume IV bound to match by the English binder responsible for the backstrips of vols. I - III, the spine uniform with the backstrips of vols. I - III, every cover with centrally-placed Botfield arms. FIRST EDITION. A FINE COPY OF THIS 'INCUNABLE' OF LITHOGRAPHY. Mayrhoffer (1764-1832) is credited with producing the first botanical lithograph. Arguably, the Flora Monacensis (which was printed on what was originally Alois Senefelder's press) is the first major botanical work to be illustrated by lithography. 'The original lithographic press which Senefelder had established in Munich for his own use was taken over by his two brothers, Theobald and Georg. They continued to print there until 1804 when the press passed to the 'Feiertagsschule für Künstler und Techniker' under the direction of Professor Hermann Joseph Mitterer' (M. Twyman Lithography 1800 - 1850 , London, 1970, p. 19). Schrank was a botanist and entomologist and the first director of the Munich botanical garden between 1809 and 1832. Initially he faced some criticism since it was felt that the location was unsuitable due to the poor soil and altitude: the wide range of specimens in this work, and the current state of the garden refute these arguments.The bindings form a pleasing set united by the matching spine decoration. This was evidently carried out to Beriah Botfield's taste, probably in the early 1830s. Nissen BBI 1803; Dunthorne 280; Stafleu and Cowan 11.118. (4)
SCHRANK, Franz von Paula von (1747-1835). Flora Monacensis seu plantae sponte circa Monachium nascentes. Munich: venditur in Instituto Lithographico Scholae Festivalis (vols. I & II) et apud editorem Jo. Nep. Mayrhoffer (vols. III & IV), 1811-1818. 4 volumes, large broadsheets (480 x 395mm). Lithographic dedication to Princess Theresa of Bavaria, lithographic portraits of Mayrhoffer and Schrank, 400 FINE HAND-COLOURED PLATES PAINTED AND LITHOGRAPHED BY JOHANN NEPOMUK MAYRHOFFER. (Most text leaves in vols. I - III somewhat spotted, portraits slightly creased, some plates slightly browned or spotted, title and first text leaf in vol. II slightly creased, additionally the title has small tears at the inner margin, two small tears to blank margin of text leaf 237 in vol. III). Contemporary German mottled sheep, thin gilt border on covers enclosing a large central inset marbled paper panel, the spine covered with a later onlaid English calf backstrip, in seven compartments, two with onlaid light-brown or dark-blue lettering-pieces, the others with overall repeat pattern in gilt (volumes I - III), volume IV bound to match by the English binder responsible for the backstrips of vols. I - III, the spine uniform with the backstrips of vols. I - III, every cover with centrally-placed Botfield arms. FIRST EDITION. A FINE COPY OF THIS 'INCUNABLE' OF LITHOGRAPHY. Mayrhoffer (1764-1832) is credited with producing the first botanical lithograph. Arguably, the Flora Monacensis (which was printed on what was originally Alois Senefelder's press) is the first major botanical work to be illustrated by lithography. 'The original lithographic press which Senefelder had established in Munich for his own use was taken over by his two brothers, Theobald and Georg. They continued to print there until 1804 when the press passed to the 'Feiertagsschule für Künstler und Techniker' under the direction of Professor Hermann Joseph Mitterer' (M. Twyman Lithography 1800 - 1850 , London, 1970, p. 19). Schrank was a botanist and entomologist and the first director of the Munich botanical garden between 1809 and 1832. Initially he faced some criticism since it was felt that the location was unsuitable due to the poor soil and altitude: the wide range of specimens in this work, and the current state of the garden refute these arguments.The bindings form a pleasing set united by the matching spine decoration. This was evidently carried out to Beriah Botfield's taste, probably in the early 1830s. Nissen BBI 1803; Dunthorne 280; Stafleu and Cowan 11.118. (4)
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
