An Introduction to Systematical and Physiological Botany. Illustrated with Explanatory Engravings

E. Cox, 1829. Hard Cover. Very Good. CASTLE, Thomas. An Introduction to Systematical and Physiological Botany. Illustrated with Explanatory Engravings. xviii, [2], 285, [1], [16] index, [2]pp adverts., half-title., hand-coloured frontispiece and eight hand-coloured plates, each with many small illustrations. An uncut copy in original linen backed boards, paper spine label noting the price of coloured and uncoloured copies. Corners bumped, and some slight and non-intrusive old waterstaining to a few leaves. Contemporary owner's name on the end-paper. Scarce. The label notes that this was issued both, plain(10s.), and as here coloured (12s 6d). 8vo. E.Cox, Saint Thomas's Street, Southwark. 1829. ~ The work is dedicated to his patron, The Right Honourable Lady Elizabeth Bligh, of Cobham Hall, Kent. It has a subscribers list with rather a preponderance of family members, and inhabitants of Bermondsey, where the author lived and the book was printed. A copy was also subscribed by Mrs Simpson, of Bedford, Pennsylvania. Thomas Castle (c1805-1837) was born in Kent, and after leaving school became a pupil of John Gill, who was surgeon at Hythe; he went on to London to carry on his studies. He entered Guy's Hospital in 1826, and was a member of its Physical Society; in 1827 he was elected fellow of the Linnean Society, when he was living in Bermondsey Square in south London. Subsequently he moved to Brighton, but committed suicide in 1837.