Sinclair, George. HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS: OR, AN ACCOUNT OF THE RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS ON THE PRODUCE AND NUTRITIVE QUALITIES OF DIFFERENT GRASSES, AND OTHER PLANTS, USED AS THE FOOD OF THE MORE VALUABLE DOMESTIC ANIMALS… ILLUSTRATED WITH DRIED SPECIMENS OF THE PLANTS.... London: B. M'Millan, 1816. Folio (19" x 11.5".) vi, lxvi, 316, [4] pp. + errata slip. INCLUDING 35 SEED SAMPLES ON 14 LEAVES AND 123 DRIED SPECIMENS MOUNTED TO LEAVES ALONG WITH PASTED CAPTIONS, FINISHED IN HAND COLOR. Without the engraved plan found in some copies. 19th century full morocco, gilt, gilt dentelles. Note that Nissen cites 122 specimens, Stafleu & Cowan cite copies with 121 or 122 specimens. *********************** FIRST EDITION, containing actual specimens from Sinclair's important catalogue of grasses. Sinclair was botanist and gardener to the Duke of Bedford. He attempted to discern the nutritional properties of various grasses by using a chemical process. Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis was a highly important work, and it is referred to in Darwin's "On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection." The work would be reissued, but the first edition would be the only edition with actual dried specimens included. The present copy is accompanied by an early presentation letter (mounted to front pastedown) which appears to written by Thomas William Coke (British politician and agricultural reformer.) Refer to photos.

Without the engraved plan found in some copies. 19th century full morocco, gilt, gilt dentelles, some chips to spine ends and edges, boards detached along with a couple of leaves at front and rear. Contents quite clean overall with some light foxing and off-setting, printed on relatively thick stock, overall a rather impressive book.