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MARSHALL, Humphrey (1722-1801)
Arbustrum Americanum: the American Grove, or, an alphabetical catalogue of forest trees and shrubs, natives of the American United States, arranged according to the Linnæan system ... also, some hints of their uses in medicine, dyes, and domestic oeconomy
Philadelphia: printed by Joseph Crukshank, 1785. Small octavo bound in 4s (8 1/4 x 5 1/8 inches). Uncut. (Small hole to lower outer blank margin of title). Original blue paper boards, expertly backed to style, neat repairs to inner margins, modern green cloth chemise, all within a green morocco-backed cloth slipcase. Provenance: John Gough (early engraved bookplate printed in blue).
The first work on trees to be both written and published in America, indeed the DAB calls it "the first truly indigenous Botanical Essay published in the Western hemisphere"
Marshall, a cousin of John Bartram and a Quaker active in business who shared the family interest in flora, describes a number of American trees never before noted. This meant that this work was of considerable interest in Europe, to botanists as well as gardeners. This first edition is dedicated to the "American Philosophical Society", specifically to the president of the Society "Benjamin Franklin, Esquire," and the three vice-presidents. The work takes the form of an introduction (including a note that the author was contemplating publishing a similar work on herbaceous plants), a 5pp. view of the `Classes of the Sexual System of Linnaeus', a 6pp. glossary of the botanical terms used. This is followed by the catalogue proper. This is broken down alphabetically, then by class and order number, then by species: e.g. a general description of the Acer or Maple tree, followed by six entries for the species that grow in the United States. A French edition was published in 1788 which demonstrated the interest abroad and carried Marshall's statement that he was willing to be an agent to ship American seeds to Europe. According to the preface in the French edition, customers already included the gardens of Louis XVI.
DAB XII, pp.311-312; Evans 19068; Hunt 674; Johnston Cleveland 558; Meisel III, p.354; Norman 1444; Oak Spring Flora 16; Pritzel 5834; Sabin 44776; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 5457
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#16973 $3,750.00 
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© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
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