Mediolani (Milan), Ex Typographia Petri Francisci Malatestae, 1744, in-folio (42 X 27.5 cm - 16.5 x 10.8 inches), 7 ff. (title and frontispice include) - 164 pp. (lack 4 text leaves pp.3,4,5,6 and pp.135,136,137,138), contemporary full parchment(wears on corners and on 1spine-end, 1 inner joint splits and parchment stained), flat spine gilt lettered.
First edition with same collation as the copy described by Claus Nissen (Cft. Die Botanische Buchillustration 1406, p.128) and also as one of the second copy describes in collection of Arpad Pritzel (p.341). On the other hand the first copy describes in this catalogue raisonné counts 32 pages of introduction extra, grouped under the title "Stirpium Simplicissimae". In general the Major Libraries have 1 copy of the 2 different issues. It would seem well there are 2 differents issues of the first edition. Be that has it may, our copy is well missing, as above described, 4 text leaves. Besides this lacking, our copy is full complete of the 68 larges (plates LXVIII put after plate XLVIII) botanical plates of medicinal plants (some foxings) engraved by Morandi and issued in black. The French Bibliographer Charles Brunet notes that "Cet ouvrage..constitue, à notre sens un valable jalon parmi l'Oeuvre des Grands Botanistes-Illustrateurs; d'où son intérêt notable (Cft. pp. 1887-1888). Morandi served as botanical artist at the botanical garden of Castello Valentino under Victor Emanuel II of Savoy. Hundred twenty two original drawings of Morandi are preserved in the British Museum. Cft. Hunt II, 522; Pritzel 6417; Lindley p. 308 (edit. 1761); Linnean Ploughshare p. 544, Pletch n° 550; Stafleu & Cowan 6290.