LINNÉ, CARL VON.

Systema naturae sistens regna tria naturæ, in classes et ordines genera et species redacta tabulisque ænis illustrata.

Stockholm, Kiesewetteri, 1748.

8vo. In contemporary half calf with five raised bands. Previous owner's name to pasted down back end-paper. Wear to extremities, a few stains to spine. Internally with occassional brownspotting. (4), 224, (28) pp. + 8 engraved plates. 

Sixth i.e. third original and first illustrated edition of Linné’s landmark work which founded modern zooloical nomenclature and changed the science more profoundly than any other work before or after. “This edition was completely re-written by Linné and three times as big as the previous (2^nd) edition; illustrations appear here for the first time; the Swedish names are given whenever possible, the animals come first and are followed by the plants. The order in previous editions was, minerals, plants, animals.”(Sandberg 5).

"During his lifetime, Linnaeus exerted an influence in his field - botany and natural history - that had had few parallels in the history of science. Driven by indomitable ambition and aided by an incredible capacity for work, he accomplished the tremendous task that he had set for himself in his youth: the establishment of new systems for the three kingdoms of nature to facilitate the description of all known animals, plants, and minerals." (D.S.B. VIII:374).

"He compiled this work, consisting only of seven folio leaves, as a first outline of what in its further development became the foundation of botanical and zoological classification systems. Linné was first and foemost a systematist, subordinating all botanical problems to that of classification. He established the principles of class, order, genus and species for all plants and animals...” (Printing and the Mind of Man, p. 114).

Sandberg 5
Soulsby 51
Hulth p. 4

Order-nr.: 62272