Icones Plantarum Syriae rariorum, descriptionibus et observationibus illustratae

Icones Plantarum Syriae rariorum, descriptionibus et observationibus illustratae First edition, one of the rarest complete copies of the 5 issues. It is illustrated with 50 plates, some of which are folding and one is heightened in color, drawn by Pierre-Joseph and Henri Redouté, Turpin and Poiteau.
Contemporary binding in half blond tree sheepskin, spine with triple gilt fillets, as well as a morocco red title piece, tree paper boards. Discreet repair to spine.
Following his study of medicine at the Université de Montpellier, La Billardière turned towards natural history and more specifically botany. In 1786, under Louis Guillaume Le Monnier's initiative, he was sent on a mission by the French government to Cyprus, Palestine and Syria. This was a prolific journey for him and he brought back a large number of plants which allowed him, on his return, to start to publish his work under the title Icones Plantarum Syriæ rariorum descriptionibus et observationibus illustratæ. This considerable work, started in 1791, will not be completed until 1812 because the author was sent in search of La Pérouse's research expedition to Oceania.