1681 Edition of Nehemiah Grew's 'Musæum Regalis Societatis' or a Catalogue of Rarities from the Royal Society
GREW, Nehemiah (1641-1712) 'Musæum Regalis Societatis. or a catalogue and description of the natural and artificial rarities belonging to the Royal Society and preserved at Gresham Colledge. Whereunto is subjoyned the Comparative anatomy of stomachs and guts'
Pub. LONDON; Printed by W. Rawlins, for the author, 1681. In English. Collation: 2° (in fours) A6 B-3C4 3D2(+1) p2(-1) A-E4 F2 ($1-2 signed) 224 leaves; pp. [12] 1-386 [4] [2] 1-43 [1]. Collation Brief: Portrait (of Daniel Colwal), Title, [5]leaves, 386pp., [3]leaves, 43pp., :: 31 plates. Manuscript alterations on pp. 62, 81, 239, 343. These alterations have been noted in other copies (?made by Grew). Note in book by KFR 'see Dawson's Catalogue 208, 1970 for reference to other copies'.
Grew was secretary to the Royal Society. He was probably the first to observe the sex in plants. He was the first to use the term comparative with respect to the anatomy of animals and man. 'This is the first catalogue of the Museum of the Royal Society (incorporated in 1662). This museum was the first in England of real education value. The collection was transferred to the British Museum in 1781.' (Schuman's Cat. 10, 1945).
Full leather dark brown with gold leaf title and crown decoration to spine, spine cracked else binding intact, shelf wear, leather bleeding, some foxing and tanning, particularly to end papers (possibly missing one on either end or restored later), some script to text. Thirty one plates inserted between 3D3v/p1r. Plate two is folded. References: Russell British Anatomy 333; ESTC R23326; Wing G. Copies sold Schuman's Cat. 10, 1945 had copy $40; Maggs Merc. Britt. Cat. 197, 1979 for £265; Alain Briews, Oct 1981 has a copy at French Frs 6500 (A$990); Jeremy Norman, cat 13, 1983 has a copy at $600. Signature of Eliz Egerton, 1716 (owner). Bookplate: Ex Libris Anatomica K.F. Russell (310x190 mm)


PROVENANCE:
Collection Late Kenneth F. Russell (1911-1987), Professor of Anatomy and Medical History, University of Melbourne.

Estimate $1,000-1,500