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COLONNA, Fabio. Fabi Columnae Lyncei Phytobasanos cui accessit vita Fabi et lynceorum notitia adnoationeque in phytobasanon iano planco ariminensi auctore et in senensi academia anatomes publico professore. Florentiae (Florence): I.P. Aeire & Typpis Petri Caietani Viviani, 1744. Second edition, expanded. (first published in 1592). With the bookplate of Stillman Drake. 4to., recently in tan half calf, marble boards, raised bands, leather spine labels, (2), liii, 134pp plus 38 leaves of plates. [(1), a-e4, A-R4, plus 38 leaves of plates]. Some scattered foxing in the margins throughout including the margins of some plates but not affecting the plates themselves, in fact a near fine copy which has not been trimmed. Hunt 165 for the first edition.
"Phytobasanos" the romanized title of this work, means plant touchstones. Touchstones were marble slabs used by goldsmiths to determine a metal's value and quality. Colonna wanted to produce a "touchstone" for plants which would provide a positive method of identification. A s a result of his work, the study of plants took another step toward becoming a science. The first edition published in 1592 was one of the earliest books to contain pictures of plants printed from engraved or etched plates. This later edition, published posthumously includes beautiful intaglio metal plates. Fabio Colonna was born in Naples to an illustrious family which traced its roots back to the Roman Empire. Colonna clearly had an inquisitive mind and was interested in the arts, languages, music and botany. Unfortunately he also suffered from epilepsy. This led to his discovery of the valerian root, an anticonvulsant, which appeared to be effective in controlling his seizures. A distinguished botanist, Colonna is credited with the discovery of about 80 new plants.