Handbook to the Ferns of Queensland, compiled from the Most Recent Works on Ferns; and an Introduction to Fern Study
Brisbane, Thorne and Greenwell, 1874.
Duodecimo, viii, [9]-14, 17-72 pages (thus lacking one leaf) plus 22 lithographed plates 'Illustrative of Genera' by H.G. Eaton.
Dark green blind-decorated cloth over thin flush-cut boards; original paper title-label ('Queensland Ferns') on the front cover; mild signs of age and use; an excellent copy.
An impressive association copy of the author's first separate publication, notwithstanding the missing leaf. The front free endpaper is inscribed to 'Prof Tate with | J.E.T.W's compts | The ms alterations are | by the author. | Sydney June 6. 1879'. The recipient is Ralph Tate (1840-1901), geologist and botanist: 'When the University of Adelaide was founded in 1874 Tate was appointed to the Elder chair of natural science ... [which] embraced botany and zoology as well as geology.... His contributions on botany ... were the foundations of the present knowledge of the plants of the colony' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). The donor is Julian Edmund Tenison-Woods (1832-1889), Catholic priest, educationist and scientist: he was 'an accurate observer of the physical world and made original contributions to Australian geology, palaeontology and zoology' (ADB). He is one of half a dozen gentlemen thanked by name by Bailey in his preface to this work. The 'ms alterations' referred to in the inscription comprise a full-page list of ten 'Queensland Ferns to be added' (24 lines on the recto of the first plate), additional data on five pages, and typographical corrections on three pages.
Item #143736
Price (AUD):
$1,250.00