The British Herbal: An History of Plants and Trees, Natives of Britain, Cultivated For Use, or Raised For Beauty

London: T. Osborne and J. Shipton; J. Hodges; J. Newbery; B. Collins; S. Crowder; H. Woodgate, 1756. First edition. Leather. Good. 16" by 10.5". Not Stated. The first edition of this impressive illustrated work on the native trees and flowers of Britain. The first edition.Illustrated with a frontispiece, engraved title, and seventy-five plates.An important contribution to botanical study, this was one of the first works to describe genera and species after Linnaeus' influential 1753 publication 'Species Plantarum'. The author describes many species of botany grown for both use and beauty, all of which native to Britain. This work is printed in two columns, description plants and trees grouped together by families, detailing their Latin and English names, as well as their physical description and growth.The title page is dated 1756, but this work was issued in fifty-two weekly parts between 1756 and 1757, this first edition in book form published in 1757. Compiled by important English composer and botanist, Sir John Hill. His work 'The Vegetable System' was one of the first to use the nomenclature of Linnaeus.Register runs as: [2], A-6U2.Collated, complete. In a half morocco binding with marbled paper to the boards. Externally, smart. Rubbing to the leather, lighter rubbing to the boards. Some light marks to the boards. Gilt to the spine is rubbed. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned with the occasional scattered spot. Small closed tear to the tail of the frontispiece, with light edge wear to the frontispiece and title page. Very small patch of worming from leaf C2 to I1. Small chip to leaf 3T1. Plate 72 is lacking about one-fifth of the illustration. The occasional ink splatter to the to text. Faint tide mark to the margins of the plates. Good