Mappus, M.
Historia plantarum Alsaticarum posthuma, opera et studio Johannis Christiani Ehrmanni.
Argantorati (Straßburg), Johann Daniel Dulsecker, [and] Amsterdam, Petrus Mortier, 1742. 4to (24.0 x 19.5 cm). Title in red and black with engraved vignette, dedication leaf with large engraved vignette, 371 pp. ([viii], 335, [xxviii]); 12 (three double) engraved plates. Near contemporary black marbled boards with later paper label. Edges speckled red.
An important catalogue of about 1,700 different Alsatian plants, written by the Alsatian botanist Markus, or Marcus, Mappus Jr (1666-1736), edited, and posthumously published by the Alsatian botanist Johann Christian Ehrmann (1710-1779). Nissen cites only seven plates, thus we have one additional plate, most probably being the second plate referring to p. 166, which is easily overlooked. Of the other four extra plates, three are duplicates, but one cannot be traced, because it is not signed at the bottom. and it is unclear if it belongs to this work. However, it is in the same style as the plate opposite p. 106 and has a Roman numeration IX, X and letters a and b, as in the p. 106 plate, thus directly following the VII and VIII of the former, and both the numbers and letters a and b are virtually identical in each. Stafleu and Cowan are silent about this. OCLC states that this book is held by only nine libraries worldwide. Rubbing to board and spine ends; inscribed, in two different old hands, on the front free endpaper recto; old stamp erased from last preface leaf; otherwise a very good copy. Nissen BBI, 1274; Stafleu and Cowan, 5369.