Beschreibung:

SLOANE, Sir Hans (1660-1753). A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica, with the Natural History of the Herbs and Trees, Four-footed Beasts, Fishes, Birds, Insects, Reptiles, &c. London: B[enjamin] M[otte] for the Author, 1707-1725. 2 volumes (340 x 255mm). Titles printed in red and black, 285 double-page or folding engraved plates, the majority by Michael Vander Gucht or John Savage including a large folding map, mounted on guards throughout. (About 30 plates trimmed to platemark, 3 slightly cropped, plate 201 browned, very occasional light unobtrusive spotting, minor tear to Tt1.) Contemporary calf panelled in gilt and blind with corner ornaments, with later Botfield arms, the spine in seven compartments with raised bands, lettered in the 2nd and 3rd on black and green morocco lettering pieces (rebacked in the mid-19th century, extremities rubbed). A HANDSOME FIRST EDITION OF SLOANE'S MOST IMPORTANT WORK containing 'the earliest representations of the flora and fauna of Jamaica and neighbouring islands' (Hunt). Physician, scientist, botanist and collector of note, Sir Hans Sloane went to the West Indies in 1687, staying for 15 months as physician to the Governor of Jamaica, the Duke of Albemarle. Sloane returned to England with 800 dried specimens of plants for his herbarium. Vander Gucht's plates were worked up from drawings of these plants by Everhard Kickius (fl. 1701-1705). The text leaves are mounted on guards as cited in Hunt. Hunt 417; Nissen ZBI 1854; Sabin 82169. (2)