Details

BOLTON, James [d. 1799].. An History Of Fungusses, Growing About Halifax.

3 Volumes. 4to. pp. xvi, 44, [2]index, [1 leaf]with errata slip mounted; 1 p.l., [ix]-xxv, [1]blank, [45]-73, [1]blank, [2], xxv-xxxii, [1], 74-92, [1]blank, [1 leaf]index & errata; 1 p.l., [xxvii]-xxxii, [93]-134, [2], [135]-138, [4]index. additional etched title in Vol. I & 1 etched headpiece. 138 etched plates, printed in sepia & coloured by hand. 19th century half morocco, t.e.g., rebacked with spines mounted, recornered (some offsetting & light to moderate foxing, becoming heavier in the text of Vol. III, scattered pencil notes). A wide-margined copy. First Edition of "the earliest British work devoted exclusively to fungi" (Henrey II p. 136). A supplementary volume, not present here, was published in 1791. "About 220 of 231 [species] are easily identified, and have been accepted and quoted under various names in their works by subsequent European authors, as Persoon, Fries, Rabhenhorst, and others on the Continent, and by Berkeley, Cooke, Stephenson, and Massee in [Britain]. Many were species new to science, and others previously undescribed in Britain.Bolton describes his specimens with great acuteness, in clear, concise terms, and this.when they were little understood.'. (Crossland) About the author very little is known except that he was a self-taught naturalist and skilful artist, who was a friend and correspondent of the eminent naturalists of the day, including Peter Collinson, William Hudson, and Philip Miller. All of the drawings and etchings for the work were executed by Bolton himself. The publication is dedicated to the Earl of Gainsborough, under whose patronage it was published. Nissen 195. Henrey III 465. Pritzel 962. Stafleu TL2 623.

$6993 USD