Pomologia,

uncommonly bright colour plates

First German language edition of the most important fruit book of the 18th century, originally published in Dutch in 1758. A lovely copy with exceptionally vibrant hand-colouring.

Johann Hermann Knoop (c. 1700-1796) was director of horticulture at the royal estate of Mariënburg, and was the first to systematically catalogue European fruit. 'Especially with the Pomologia, Knoop broke new ground and that is why he is regarded as the father of the pomology, or the study into fruit varieties. He was the first to publish overviews, lists of synonyms and accompanying scientific explanations of apples and pears from Dutch, German, English and French regions. Furthermore, the Pomologia has many beautiful illustrations which almost seem three-dimensional through the use of shadow effects (Utrecht University).

First German language edition; folio (34.5 x 23 cm); 20 and 24 hand-coloured plates, respectively, 19th century bookplate, offsetting and some uneven spotting to contents, darker in the second work, hand-colouring uncommonly bright; contemporary mottled calf, spine elaborately gilt, tan morocco label, patterned pastepaper endpapers, edges of text block dyed red, second label lacking, some loss from the ends of spine, headcap repaired, some wormed spots to the boards, very good condition; 56pp plus 11pp index, 42pp plus 4pp index.