Introduction to Systematic and Physiological Botany

NUTTALL, Thomas. An Introduction to Systematic and Physiological Botany. Boston: Hilliard, Gray, Little, and Wilkins, and Richardson and Lord, 1827. 1st ed. xi, 360pp. plus 12 plates. Orig. cloth backed boards and with the spine label intact. Some light toning throughout, else a very good or better fully untrimmed copy. Meisel III 399. Taxonomic Literature 6924. Pritzel 6772. Shaw 30099. Thomas Nuttall,1786-1859, was one of the most intrepid American naturalists of his day, travelling extensively in the Mississippi Valley and the Far West in the 1820s and '30s to gather botanical specimens. While teaching at Harvard he was rather eccentric in his habits, working in a tree house so he could pull up his rope ladder and not be disturbed. In 1822 Nuttall was appointed curator of the Botanical Garden of Harvard University, where he remained for ten years, occasionally lecturing. While teaching at Harvard he was rather eccentric in his habits, working in a tree house so he could pull up his rope ladder and not be disturbed. He resigned his post to accompany the Wyeth expedition to the Pacific Coast. This work is an important classification of American plants, illustrated by attractive lithographed plates depicting parts of the flower, and various plants. A scarce and important work by one of America's leading 19th century naturalists.…