Beytrag zur teutschen holzgeerechten Forstwissenschaft, die Anpflanzung nordamerikanischer Holzarten, mit Anwendung auf teutsche forste betreffend von Friederich Adam Julius von Wangenheim… Mit Original Zeichnungen de WANGENHEIM, FRIEDRICH ADAM JULIUS - 1787

Göttengen: J. C. Dieterich, 1787. Half Calf. Very Good +. Folio (39.2 x 24.6 cm) Large paper copy bound in later half calf and marble boards. Collation: [2], [iii]-xlv, [1 Err.], [1]-124, [8] pp. + 31 (3 folding) engraved plates. The present half calf binding replaced the original green-paper boards. The new binding has raised bands and gilt decorated panels with brief gilt title and author stamped into red morocco label in upper panel. The boards and corners are in very good condition. There is upper edge paper repair to front free end paper and title page, presumably replacing removed early ownership information. The text proper including the half title not mentioned by Sabin is very clean and bright. The personal circular stamp of previous owner (Inz. Mgr. M. Kubiak) is in the blank area of the fore edge on p. xxxix and the lower right corner of Tab. III. The plates are generally very clean except for Tab XVIII, XXVI, XXIX and XXXI where there is striking from the printing of the plate or minor spot in center area away from image (Tab. XXXI). Plate XXVI has the most striking near the stub area. It is also the only plate that was placed on the stub too high and the upper edge with Tab number was trimmed during the rebinding with number unreadable. The table on pp. xxxviii- xlv lists properties of 21 North American trees with aspects of growth, roots, base, location/habitat, bark, wood/lumber , leaves, sex, flowering time, seeds, seed maturity, beginning of growth, life span, propagation, and uses of timber.

Each tree illustrated is discussed separately in the text portion of this work. Wangenheim gives the German, Latin and English name for each tree along with Latin description and cites author(s) who have named and described the tree previously. Several of the trees were new and are described by Wangenheim who cites Linneaus (Species Plantarum) and Gronovius (Flora Virginiana) for the other trees. This is one of the first systematic treatment of North American trees with illustrations that would be suitable for a climate outside North America other than Catesby's 1763 Hortus britanno-americannus… and predates Michaux's first illustrated work on oakes by 14 years. There was an earlier publication by Wangenheim that was more of a catalog of trees he observed in his travels as an Hessian soldier with the British troops during the War of Independence. All of the plates were made from field drawings done by Wangenheim although none of them is signed. Johnston notes (Cleveland Collection p. 537) that Wangenheim returned to "Prussia where he engaged in forestry. This is the first edition of this work on introducing North American trees into Germany. This is the first edition of this work on introducing North American trees into Germany." (Cleveland 574; Lib. Arnold Arboretum p. 730; Nissen BBI 2105; Rehder I 304; Sabin 101238)