Stockholm, L. L. Grefing, 1757. 8vo. Bound in a very nice recent half calf pastich binding (by Gust. Hedberg, Stockholm) with gilt lettering and ornamentation to spine. Very light miscolouring to spine. Internally with a few occassional brownspots. Overall a very nice copy. (8), 312, (4), 317-376, (16) + 12 engraved plates.
First edition of this important account of two Swedish voyages to China and the East Indies, with a foreword by Linné. The first being by the Swedish botanist and explorer Peter Osbeck and the second by the Swedish naturalist Olof Torén. Both are notable for their contributions to botany, natural history and cultural exchange between Europe and Asia.In 1750–1752 Peter Osbeck travelled on the ship Prins Carl to Asia where he spent four months studying the flora, fauna, and people of the Canton region of China. He returned home just in time to contribute more than 600 species of plant to Linnaeus' Species Plantarum, published in 1753. Osbeck's journal contain detailed observations on the languages, cultures, and local economy of the regions he visited. However, its primary significance lies in the extensive sections dedicated to foreign plants and fish which are illustrated in 12 engravings.Soulsby 3599.