Fine Books & Manuscripts

MICHAUX, François André (1770–1855). The American Sylva, or A Description of the Forest Trees of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia… Paris: C. d’Hautel, 1819. 3 volumes, 8vo (249 x 160 mm). Half–titles, 156 color stipple–engraved plates and finished by hand by various artists after Pancrace Bessa, Pierre–Joseph Redoute, and Henri–Joseph Redoute (occasional marginal spotting or toning to plates and text, some offsetting from text, gutter margin reinforced between pp. 2–3 in Vol. III). Contemporary half olive green calf–backed marbled boards, raised bands tooled in gilt, citrus morocco spine labels gilt, blind–tooled centerpieces in compartments (rebacked preserving original spines and endpapers). FIRST TRADE EDITION IN ENGLISH, translated by Augustus L. Hillhouse, containing the findings of Michaux and his father, who explored the southern Appalachians, Spanish Florida, the Midwest, and Canada. This work remained the definitive text on the subject until the publication of Charles Singer Sargent’s Silva of North America (1891–1902). Sabin notes that of the English editions “this, notwithstanding some typographical errors, is the best”. Sabin 48694.