Thornton, Robert John. Practical Botany. Being a New Illustration of the Genera of Plants, containing … The Whole arranged after the Reformed Sexual System. First Edition. Volume 1 only. It appears that no other volumes were published. London, H.D. Symonds, J. White and J. Stockdale, 1807. 24 x 15 cm. Engraved Frontispiece, Title Page, Engraved Portrait of James Edward Smith, xviii, 85 text pages (see comments below), eight folding Tables and 102 engraved Plates. New (2022) half Buckram over marbled paper boards. Black morroco label with gilt title and author’s name. New plain end papers. Very good condition. New binding. Internally mildly age darkened / dust dulled, otherwise clean. Edge of one folding Table age darkened and frayed. Some Plates appear to be trimmed (actual page size is 23.8 cm x 15 cm). A very nice copy of this scarce Thornton publication. See images.

Note: Text pages 81 to 85 are misnumbered 71 to 75.
Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) was an English physician and botanical writer, noted for “A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus Von Linnæus” (1797-1807) and “The British Flora” of 1812.
He was the son of Bonnell Thornton and studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. Inspired by John Martyn’s lectures on botany and the work of Linnaeus he switched from the Church to medicine. He worked at Guy’s Hospital in London, where he later lectured in medical botany. After spending some time abroad, he settled and practised in London. Robert inherited the family fortune after the death of both his brother and mother. Thornton died in destitution.
In 1799 Thornton commenced his work on the New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus a work of botanical science to be published in three parts. The first was a dissertation on the sex of plants according to the Swedish scientist, Carolus von Linnaeus and the second an exposition of the sexual system.The most ambitious part of the New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus Linnæus was Part III, the Temple of Flora (1799-1807). The first plates were engraved by Thomas Medland in May 1798, from paintings by Philip Reinagle. Between 1798 and 1807, they produced a total of thirty-three coloured plates, engraved in aquatint, stipple and line engraving. When he planned the project, Thornton had decided to publish seventy folio-size plates. Lack of interest from the general public spelled disaster for the scheme, and the holding of a lottery could not save it from financial ruin, neither did a page in the work dedicated to the spouse of George III, Queen Charlotte, patroness of botany and the fine arts. It is estimated that around 800 copies were produced, each containing 31 plates accompanied by inspirational poetry and explanatory notes covering flower lore and legend.
Published:– Thornton, R.J. 1812. Elements of Botany Part 1. Classification. London. Dedicated to Rev. Thomas Martyn, M.A.F.R.S.
The standard author abbreviation Thornton is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.

Worldcat lists only eight copies in Universities across the UK and US.

• Keywords: Fine Bindings & Editions · Gardening · Medicine · Natural Sciences · Reference · Science & Nature
• Language: English
• First edition
• Inventory Number: 103336AB

Our price: EUR 1.450,--