2 volumes, 4to (330 x 260 mm). 100 hand-colored plates. (Scattered spotting, mostly to text.) Contemporary half morocco gilt, spines in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt-lettering in 2 (rebacked preserving original spines, lacking original lower spine compartment in vol. II, renewed in morocco, fore-corners rubbed). Provenance: Illegible penciled signature on title-pages.

FIRST EDITION of Carson's classic work on materia medica, produced in a large format and employing lithographs. McGrath considered them "particularly noteworthy for their technique, carefully heightened with varnish." In format and execution of plates, this ranks as one of the foremost botanical works written and produced in the United States in the 19th century. Carson was a professor of materia medica at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (1836-1850) and at the University of Pennsylvania (1850-1876). He also served as editor of the third American edition of Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics by Jonathan Pereira. McGrath, p.54. Bennett, p.20.