The Natural History of Many Curious and Uncommon Zoophytes, collected from various parts of the Globe
London: Printed for Benjamin White and Son, at Horace's Head, Fleet-street; and Peter Elmsly, in the Strand 1786. xii, [1]-208 pages + 63 plates. Pages 207-208 (publisher ads) bound after the plates. Quarto. Old tree calf binding with simple gilt chain borders, marbled endpapers, page edges yellow. With the bookplate of Wm. Constable Esq, F.R.S. & F.A.S. on the front pastedown. Occasional pencil line. Portions of textblock are very bright and crisp (likely washed when last rebound). Very Good. Calf. [29687]
"John Ellis was an eighteenth-century naturalist known for being the first person to publish a description of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) after specimens were sent from North Carolina to Britain in 1769. Ellis was also one of the first marine biologists, specialising in zoophytes, particularly corals, which he illustrated with great attention to detail. Among his discoveries, made with the Swedish naturalist Daniel Solander (1733-82), was that sponges were animals. This book on zoophytes, with additions by Solander, was published posthumously in 1786 at the instigation of Ellis's daughter after the manuscript was found among Solander's effects by the Swedish embassy in London four years earlier." (Royal Collection Trust description of their copy)
Provenance: Maggs Bros, sold May 1962 and in a private collection since.
Price: $1,250.00