TUSSAC, FRANCOIS RICHARD DE | Flore des Antilles, ou Histoire generale botanique, rurale et economique des vegetaux indigenes des Antilles. Paris: Chez L'Auteur, F. Schoell et Hautel, 1808-1827 [1828]

TUSSAC, FRANCOIS RICHARD DE

Flore des Antilles, ou Histoire generale botanique, rurale et economique des vegetaux indigenes des Antilles. Paris: Chez L'Auteur, F. Schoell et Hautel, 1808-1827 [1828]

4 volumes in 2 folio (20 1/2 x 13 in.; 515 x 330 mm). 140 stipple engraved plates printed in color and finished with hand-coloring by Dien, Gabriel, Massard, Bouquet and others after Redoute, Turpin and Poiteau and others; lacking half-titles in French and Latin, and text leaf for pp. 67/68 in volume I, minor flaw to plate mark of plate 8 volume I, volume III plate 24 shaved at outer margin, some occasional light spotting to text and plates mainly at beginning and end, some browning to text leaves of final volume. Contemporary green morocco gilt, covers ruled, roll-tool borders incorporating grape, flower, pineapple and acorn tools, by J. Wright; minor rubbing to joints and edges.

The Botfield copy of this early flora of the West Indies

First edition. According to Brunet, a mere 150 copies of this lavish work were published in 32 fascicules. Tussac's early life remains somewhat of a mystery, but his voyage to the West Indies included Saint Domingo, Martinique in 1786, and Haiti and Jamaica in 1802. It was in Haiti that he briefly became curator of a botanic garden.  

The preface includes an account of Toussaint-Louverture's rebellion. Though the majority of his original drawings were burned during the rebellion, when he returned to France in 1802 Tussac was able to recreate them from his notes and collected specimens.

REFERENCE:

Brunet V:987; Nissen, BBI 2017; Great Flower Books 78; Dunthorne 312; Stafleu and Cowan 15.397

PROVENANCE:

Beriah Botfield (his sale, Christie's London, 30 March 1994, lot 90)