Author: Agricola, Georg Andreas (1672-1738)
Title: NEU UND NIE ERHOERTER .. VERSUCH DER UNIVERSAL VERMEHRUNG ALLER BAUME, STAUDEN, UND BLUMEN Bewa¨chse.
Description: Regenspurg, Johann Theodoro Boetio 1st edition 1716-1717 Engraved folding portrait by Christoph L. Agricola (1665-1724), 31 numbered copperplates +7 full-page plates in text (some folding) + text illustrations throughout. . Two volumes in one folio (33x22x4cm) contemporary vellum with brass clasps, All edges faded blue, early ownership inscriptions on endpapers, 25 leaves +184pp +16 leaves +82pp +8 leaves (Register). Each of 34 leaves of plates has descriptive letterpress on verso. Two sheets with copperplates outside numbering on pp49 & 58 of some copies are not present here, also an explanation of the frontis to Part II. Broken inner joint, portrait of Agricola with large tear over the portrait bust (neatly repaired without loss), text pages variously browned but crisp & clean throughout. *The German doctor and botanist Georg Andreas Agricola discovered the method of root localisation, which was intended to replace the grafting method, which had only been used until then. Agricola "wanted to produce fine fruits from all seeds, only cuttings, root propagation, countersinks and special types of pruning to be used" (Teichert, Veredelungskunst, 93). In Germany he was misunderstood and then forgotten, probably also due to his style, which was judged verbose and boring, but "the book contains many good observations about the treatment and propagation of plants" (Hirsch / Hübotter I, 70). Despite criticism of its style and method, the work was a great success: a second German edition was published in 1717, Dutch & French translations in 1719-24, and Richard Bradley translated the book into English in 1717. "Its 35 plates served as the principal illustrated fruit-tree propagation manual for many decades" (Jeanson 215).

Keywords: German black letter botany illustrated


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