St. Petersburg, A. Wienecke, 1890. 8vo (21.8 x 15.3 cm). 60 pp., eight photo-type plates. Original printed wrappers.

Important paper on the discrimination between real and false or falsified tea. Inscribed (dedication) by the author to the German botanical professor Julius Wiesner, and with the latter's name written in the top margin of the title page. The plates show microscopic views of cell tissue of the tea plant and similar plants that are used in producing fake tea, in particular Epilobium angustifolium L. (fireweed or rosebay willowherb) which was exported from Russia to other European countries as "Kapor Tea". Although harmless, and even rich in certain vitamins, "Kapor tea" simply is not tea but a much cheaper substitute. A very good copy. Very rare, not in any major bibliography.