Flora Parisiensis, ou descriptions et figures des plantes qui croissent aux environs de Paris. Avec les différens noms, classes, ordres et genres qui leur conviennent, rangés suivant la méthode sexuelle de M. Linné, leurs parties caractéristiques, ports, propriétés, vertus et dises d'usage en Médecine, suivant les démonstrations de Botanique qui se font au Jardin du Roy. Ouvrage orné de plus de 600 figures colorieés d'après nature. I-VI. [Complete]

Paris: Chez Didot Jeune, Libraire, Quai des Augustins, 1783. 6 volumes. 8vo. (7 7/8 x 4 3/4 inches). General title page in Vol. I within hand-colored engraved border, titles in Vols. II-VI within ornamental borders. Volume I: [12] 32 pp., rest unpaginated. Introduction at beginning complete with half-title, volume title page, 2 pp. advertisement, engraved table of contents printed recto and verso, and 2 numbered hand-colored engraved plates. 640 unnumbered hand-colored engraved plates divided into 24 orders across 6 vols., each accompanied by a page of description, with 33 pp. Table Françoise, 5 pp. errata, and 15 pp. Classes et Ordres de Linné Index in Vol. 6, which is usually lacking. Vol. I: pls. 1-104. Vol. 2: pls. 105-215. Vol. 3: pls. 216-318. Vol. 4: pls. 319-420. Vol. 5: pls. 421-536. Vol. 6: pls. 537-640. Uniformly bound in full tree calf with triple gilt-rules, spines in six compartments with raised bands, elaborately gilt with floral motifs, dark brown Morocco lettering-pieces in second, third, and fourth compartments, uniformly gilt-titled [DESCRIPTIONS | ET FIGURES | DES PLANTES] in second compartment, volume numeral in third compartment, and [CLASSE PAR ORDRES] with numerals in fourth compartments. Red, yellow, and grey marbled endpapers with pink cloth ribbon placemarkers and flecked edges

A classic herbal of plants and fungi from the Île-de-France region with 640 hand-colored plates by Bulliard. A rare complete copy of the first and only edition, with introduction and index, both often lacking.

Pierre Bulliard, a French physician, skillful botanist, and pupil of Rousseau, produced two ambitious works: this 640-plate taxonomy of the plants and fungi of the Paris surrounds titled Flora Parisiensis (1776-1783) and the even more voluminous Herbier de la France (1780-93). While the latter was illustrated with engraved and color-printed plates, the entire six volumes of Flora were completely hand-colored by Bulliard himself. Bulliard's illustrations for Flora are delicate but precise, clear lined, with a strong feel for shadowing and pigmentation. Stafleu and Cowan describe Bulliard as a "picturesque outsider" who "represented the Linnaean tradition in Paris" as a "descriptive naturalist" and "industrious and skilled draftsman and floristic botanist." They consider Flora to be "a rarity." Especially so when it is complete as here: De Belder writes, "this work is usually found incomplete, the sixth volume and introduction being particularly rare (the latter lacking in the Bibliothèque Nationale copy)." Bulliard practiced medicine in Paris after studying anatomy and botany while ensconced in the Abbey of Clairvaux. While on walks through the environs of the French capital, his taste for the natural sciences inspired him to change course away from medicine and toward his mammoth book project Flora Parisiensis. Bulliard made such an impact bringing the methods of Linnaean taxonomy to bear on the plants of France that the standard author abbreviation "Bull." is now used to indicate Bulliard as an author in botanical citations.

Brunet I, 1388. De Belder 50. Dunthorne 69. Goblin 295. Nissen 295. Plesch 106. Pritzel 1353. Sitwell & Blunt p.81. Stafleu & Cowan TL2 904.