Stutgardiae, J. C. Cotta, 1826. Large quarto (34.5 x 26.1 cm). xv, 212 pp.; 30 lithographed plates [1-29, 3bis], of which one [Plate 27] double-sized. 19th-century polished half calf over marbled boards. Spine with five raised, flat-topped bands; compartments rich gilt with floral patterns, and black morocco label with gilt title. Numerous wood-engraved tailpieces. Brown endpapers. Edges speckled red.

An excellent copy of a great rarity. Despite the Latin title, and German publisher, this work is entirely written in French. Published after the death of the author, the French botanist Louis Claude Marie Richard (1754-1821) edited by his son and fellow botanist Achille (1794-1852). Achille dedicated the work to the great polymath Alexander von Humboldt. The work deals with conifers, ginkgo, and cycads. Cycads superficially resemble palms and ferns, but are not related. They grow very slowly, and nearly all species are on the IUCN Red List. The fine, detailed illustrations are by the author. Light shelf wear; weak toning and very light spotting to the outer margins, otherwise a very good, clean and fresh copy. We found not a single auction record. Cat. BM(NH) p. 1697; Nissen BBI, 1635; Pritzel, 7640; Stafleu & Cowan, 9159.