Stockholm, L. L. Grefing, 1757. 8vo (11.8 x 19.6 cm). [vi], 376, [xvi] pp.; 12 engraved plates. Near contemporary full mottled calf. Spine with five raised bands, blind-tooled floral patterns and vellum label with title. Speckled edges.

A very good copy of the rare first edition. The Swedish traveller and botanist Pehr Osbeck (1723-1805) describes in this book his voyage and many native plants he found in China and Southeast Asia. The preface is by Linnaeus. At the end there is an account of a voyage to China by the botanist, pupil of Linnaeus, and clergyman Olof Torén (1718-1753), originally in the form of letters to Linnaeus "En Ostindisk Resa til Suratte, China &c. Från 1750 April 1 til 1752 Jun. 26 Forråttad af Olof Torén, Stepps-Predikant wid Ostindiska Compagniet uti bref ofwersånd til Archiat. Linnaeus" (half-title occupying page 313). Most plates are botanical, but one plate includes Velella, and a fish. Early contribution to the natural history and especially the botany of China and Southeast Asia. As usual some browning in the text. Pictorial (armorial?) bookplate of Emanuel af Geijersstam (his autograph on the title), small bookplate of the Lundsbergs Skola on the front pastedown, and a very nice pictorial bookplate of the same institute on the front free endpaper. Some skilful repairs to the spine and a small marginal repair in the front free endpaper. Cordier, 2097; Pritzel, 6865; Soulsby, 3599 (under Torén).