La clef de la botanique.
[Education].
A Toulouse: chez Broulhiet & Meilhac, Imprimeurs 1796. First edition of this introduction to botany for young women, written as a sequel to the unknown author’s Papillottes, on philosophy. We have been unable to ascertain the author’s name. One large folding table. Chipped at head and foot of spine. Small tear in table. A fine, uncut copy. Contemporary blue-gray wrappers, stitched at spine. Twelvemo. 88 pp. (Item ID: 15272)
$950.00
The little work which I offer to the public is a precious flower made to bloom by a lover of botany; it clears out the Linnean system of the difficulties which render its study problematic, and almost impossible to those ignorant of Latin; the barbaric names distinguishing the classes have given way to the sweet names of lover and spouse. The entrance to the temple of the most agreeable and interesting of science will no longer be spiked with brambles and thorns; it will be easy for whoever wishes to learn, to possess in a few days the key to the best botanical system” (Preface). In addition to Linnaeus, the author cites Rousseau’s letters on botany, and other authors, including Bonnet, while seeking to describe the Linnaean system in terms of marriages and relationships between plants.
OCLC records one copy, at Toulouse. It lists no copies of the author’s other book, Papillottes.
