The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica.

Though not designated as such, this is the second edition; from the library of the English botanist T. F. Forster. Patrick Browne (c.1720–1790) was an Irish physician and botanist who went to the West Indies in 1737 and again about 1746, settling in Jamaica. Returning to London, he published this account in 1756, illustrated with engravings of plants and animals based on drawings that Browne commissioned from Georg Ehret. The work has an important place in botanical history, as Browne was the first English-speaking author to use Linnaeus's system of classifying plants in print. He coined Latin names for over a hundred genera, some of which are still accepted. This second edition is augmented with indexes of Linnaean binomials. The illustrations had to be re-engraved after the original copper printing-plates were destroyed in the great fire in Cornhill, London, on 7 November 1765. The plates are reversed and a little inferior to the originals in intensity, but they are improved by the addition of the botanic name at the foot.

Folio (365 × 232 mm). Contemporary tree calf, rebacked with original spine laid down, red morocco label, spines gilt in compartments, covers with gilt scroll border. Large folding map and 49 engraved plates after Ehret. From the library of the botanist Thomas Furly Forster (1761–1825), with his neat ownership inscription at the head of the title; title also with the charming inkstamp of his son, Thomas Ignatius Maria Forster (1789–1860), writer on science and phrenologist, depicting his dog Shargs; the latter's ownership inscription dated May 19, 1841 on front free endpaper and he and his wife Julia Beaufoy's inkstamp to the half title. The occasional trivial mark internally, but generally clean and fresh, the map in fine condition, overall an excellent copy.