The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica.

First Edition, one of only 250 copies according to Sabin. 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, 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. The first is the only edition to have the original engraved plates after Ehret, as the copper plates were destroyed in a fire in 1765; the second edition of 1789 has copies re-engraved in reverse.

Folio (357 × 239 mm). Contemporary calf (perhaps Spanish), morocco label gilt lettered in English, spine gilt in compartments, marbled pastedowns, mottled edges. With folding map of Jamaica, folding chart of the harbours of Port Royal & Kingston, and 49 copperplates (38 of flora, 11 of fauna) by G. D. Ehret. Inkstamp of Juan J. de Mugartegui, abocado, Marquina, to front free endpaper. Spine a little darkened and dried, some waterstaining to covers and damp penetration through joints with consequent staining to gutter at beginning and towards end, a few strong scattered wormholes through back cover into text and occasionally elsewhere, these flaws apparently a consequence of the book having been in South America, still a good firm copy.