Grundzüge der Wissenschaftlichen Botanik nebst einer methodologischen Einleitung als Anleitung zum Studium der Pflanze. 1-2.

Leipzig, Verlag von Wilhelm Engelmann, 1842-43. 8vo. XXVI,+ 289,+ (3); XVIII,+ 564 pp. Insignificant foxing. Small stain in the lower margin of p. XXII in part one. Lightly worn contemporary half calf with gilt spine and sprinkled edges. Light stain in titlefield on spine. Small bookbinder’s note included between pp. VI and VII. Owners’ signature of Hampus von Post and of Nils Svedelius and the latter’s bookplate. Library stamp and exclusion notation from Botaniska institutionernas bibliotek at Uppsala university. Pritzel 8224. Dibner, Heralds of Science 31. Bibliotheca Walleriana 11732. DSB XII pp. 173 ff. A very nice copy of the rare first edition of Mathias Jakob Schleiden’s (1804-81) important textbook in which he expands on the groundbreaking cell theory, and in which he ”clearly announced the advent of plant cytology. This subject became the starting point of all subsequent botany textbooks” (DSB). ”Schleiden eagerly applied himself to the microscopic study of plant structure and growth. From it he derived the important conclusion that the cell was the basic unit of any living organism, plant or animal. The latter were no more than aggregates of individual, independent, complete beings - the cells themselves.” (Dibner)., ”A number of Schleiden’s articles contain virulent criticism of the botanists of the first half of the nineteenth century, many of whom still upheld the ideas of nature philosophy, against which his textbook was a frontal attack.” (DSB), as Schleiden remarks in a footnote on p. 159 ”Ein nur der Idee nach vorhandener Gegenstand in der Naturwissenschaft ist ein Unding, mit dem Hegel’sche oder Schelling’she Confusionsräthe sich beschäftigen mögen. Der klare Kopf will die Wissenschaft von dem, was wirklich ist, nich von dem, was seyn könnte, wenn dieser oder jener Herr Doctor die Welt erschaffen hätte.” [An object in natural science, wich only exists as an idea, is an absurdity that may be of interest to the confusion-councils of Hegel or Schelling. The clear head seeks the science in that which is, not in that which could have been, had this or the other Herr Doctor created the world.”].”The book, which established the teaching of botany on a completely new basis, was often reprinted and appeared in various translations and adaptations. To appreciate the enthusiasm it aroused and its influence in turning young men to the study of botany, it is necessary to read the testimony of contemporaries, particularly of Julius Sachs, a famous botanist and author of a well-known history of botany.” (DSB)The versatile Hampus von Post (1822-1909) was, among other things, an army officer, a botanist, manager of Reijmyre glassworks and a teacher at Ultuna school of agriculture. His deep and prevailing interest in botany was to a large degree inspired by Elias Fries and his lectures at the university in Uppsala in the 1840s. Nils Svedelius (1873-1960) was a botanist and professor at Uppsala university. His main area of study was algae, which he studied around the world, for instance in Ceylon.