ROQUES, Plantes usuelles, indigènes et exotiques, 1807-1808

First edition.
Joseph Roques (1772-1850) is a botanist who remains famous for his beautiful illustrated editions of flora which will remain references in the 19th century.

Our copy is complete with 133 finely watercolor plates gathering hundred's of botanical subjects (we also have the errata leaves on volume II which is often missing).
The author tells us in his preliminary speech that the execution of the engravings "was entrusted to Artists of distinguished merit". The result is a delicacy of the illustrations which clearly stood out from the lot of botany textbooks of the time.

A magnificent work, but also scientifically rigorous.
Finding that most of the medical floras of the time flirted with charlatanism, Roques has here selected only plants whose medicinal properties have been proven during his practice of medicine in Montpellier and gives their precise use.
To reach both the general public and scientists, he gives for each of the plants the popular name, the scientific name as well as their positions in the classification systems of Linnaeus, Tournefort and Jussieu. It is thus one of the last floras using this triple classification, an unified system being imposed in the modern era.