Beschreibung:

COMMELIN, Jan and CASPAR. Horti Medici Amstelodamensis rariorum tam orientalis, quam Occidentalis Indiae, aliarumque peregrinarum Planaturm magno studio ... Beschryvinge en curieuse Afbeeldingen van rare vreemde Oos- West-Indische en andere gewassen. Amsterdam: R. & J. Blaeu, 1697-1701. 2 volumes, 2 o (393 x 256 mm). Latin half-titles, engraved frontispieces, Latin title-pages printed in red and black followed by Dutch title-pages printed in black, 5 engraved plates of arms, 224 plates of plants on 222 leaves (plates 42-44 in vol.I on one leaf), Latin and Dutch text printed in two columns. (Minor marginal worming to first few leaves in vol. I, short tear to plates 17-22 in vol. II.) Contemporary vellum (light wear and darkening to covers and spine). FIRST EDITION. Jan Commelin (1629-1692) was the director of the Amsterdam Physic Gardens. "The first volume, on the plants of the East and West Indies, was [his] most important contribution to botanical knowledge; it was brought out posthumously by his nephew Caspar. The second volume was by Caspar Commelin and contained an enlargement on some of the notes in Jan's book, with further notes on African plants. The original paintings...were mainly the work of Johan and Maria Moninckx and may be seen in the Library of the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam" (Hunt). Dunthorne 81; Great Flower Books , p. 54: Hunt 399; Nissen BBI 389; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 1187.