3 parts in one, square 4to (229 x 197 mm). Engraved title-page vignettes, frontispiece, 2 dedications, 45 engraved plates after Burgsdorf and others, of which 22 are folding and 27 hand-colored; 4 letterpress tables (3 folding) not called for in Stafleu-Cowen or in Nissen. (Some pencil notations on plate II, some light spotting to frontispiece and the first title-page.) Contemporary paper-backed marbled boards, black paper lettering-piece gilt on spine, edges stained yellow (light rubbing to extremities, remnants of old sticker on spine).

FIRST EDITION of this rare and important study on forestry and arboriculture which builds on Linnaean principles. Volume one focuses on the beech species and volume two focuses on the oak and its use in construction, particularly ship-building. Burgsdorf was son of a chief forester to the Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, eventually becoming chief forester himself to King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia. Nissen BBI 301; Pritzel 1385; Stafleu-Cowan 925.