SCHREBER, JOHANN CHRISTIAN DANIEL.

Beschreibung der Gräser nebst ihren Abbildungen nach der Natur. 2 Theile (with the title to the second Part:3rd Fasc. which reads:) Botanisch=Oeconomische Beschreibung der Gräser).

Leipzig, Siegfried Lebrecht Crusius, 1769-79. Folio. Bound in one contemp. hcalf, 6 raised bands, gilt. Spineends professionally repaired. Part of title-label missing. Corners renewed. Large engraved title-vignette. (14),154;(2),88 pp., 2 half-page engraved vignettes. and 40 large folded (3/2-page) engraved plates, all finely handcoloured. Some fingermarks at lower right corners of the first leaves. A few scattered brownspots. Printed on good paper. A fourth part of volume 2 came out as late as 1810, having 14 plates and it is sometimes called volume 3. It is not present here.

Scarce first edition of Schreber's classic work on grasses, which became of importance due to its very elaborate explanations of all aspects of the numerous grasses mentioned and depicted in the 40 plates, which are considered very well executed, both in regard to drawing, engraving, and colouring.

Schreber (1739-1810) was a German physician and natural scientist. He became famous for his diverse knowledge and for his scientific works within botany and zoology. He studied medicine and natural science in Uppsala, Sweden, where he became doctor of medicine and made the acquaintance of Carl von Linné, whom he learned a lot from. In 1787 he became a member of the Swedish Academy of Sciences.

In Germany he became professor of medicine, botany, natural history, and pharmacology at Erlangen, director of Erlangen botanical garden, and president of the Leopoldina. His work on grasses was considered fairly important, especially due to its very elaborate explanations of all parts of the particular grasses, its use, conditions, etc. etc.

"Dr. Schreber, a pupil of the great Linnæus, and a son to one of the best writers on husbandry in Germany, is publishing in numbers a work on grasses: his plan we will communicate to the reader, as it bids fair to obviate the greater part of the enumerated difficulties, and greatly to promote the study of this useful branch of botany and husbandry. In an introductory discourse, Dr. Schreber describes all the different parts observable in grasses, their flowers and their fructification; so that this part may be considered as a "philosophia Agrostographia". He next observes the points which must be attended to in a good description of grass; and, lastly, he shews the extensive utility of this branch of botany. The first volume contains twenty-seven descriptions, and as many excellent drawings of grasses, on twenty coloured plates…" (a contemporary review of the work, from Smollett's "The Critical Review, or, Annals of Literature, Vol. 32).

Schreber was obviously inspired by Linné, as will be seen from the systematic account of the different grasses described and depicted in the present work, although he refused to group the grasses under certain genera. We are provided with the first name of each grass represented as well as with all its varieties, and names in almost all European languages, whereafter follows an extensive description of that particular grass, containing everything that is known about it - where it grows, under which circumstances, in which soil, its time of flowering, when it brings ripe seeds, etc. We are also provided with extensive information as to its cultivation, on the cattle which like it best, on the authors who have written about it, on the medicinal use of it, etc.

"The plates are very well executed in regard to drawing, engraving, and colouring. The second part of this work, the first number of which is published, will soon appear. The defects of the work are, its high price, its too great diffuseness, and the too minute detail the author frequently enters into, the prospect that many years will pass away before the work can be finished, and that it is written in German, a language very little understood in this country." ("The Critical Review, or, Annals of Literature, Vol. 32).

Some of the excellent original drawings of the "Beschreibung der Gräser" are still to be found at Erlangen, where Scheber also had his private collection of numerous grasses

(See Stafleu & Covan, V : p. 328 and No 11.127)

Nissen: 1807. - Pritzel: 8395. - Not in Hunt.

Order-nr.: 38562