The Flora of South Africa - Rudolf Marloth
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Product details
A very scarce, and unique, complete set of
'The Flora of South Africa' by Rudolf Marloth, being four volumes issued in six parts, five which still retain their original dust covers
Herman Wilhelm Rudolf Marloth was born in Prussia in 1855 and emigrated to South Africa in 1883 after obtaining his degree in Chemistry at the University of Rostock. His passion was for botany, and, after the successful publication of two books on the botany of the Cape, he was sponsored by Sir Lionel and Lady Phillips to compile his mammoth task of the Flora of South Africa, an undertaking which took him twenty years to complete. The publication eventually was produced as 4 volumes in 6 parts with an estimated 180 color plates. The publication started with Volume 1 in 1913, finishing with Volume 3 in 1932. 
The original paintings were by a number of well-known artists of the time, Ethel May Dixie, Ester Smith and Florence Thwaits being amongst them. But the ultimate publication of his work was doomed from the start when a total of three separate fires destroyed many of the copies of Volume 1 and 2. leaving only about 500 which were undamaged. Also, in the fires, about 1500 sets of the color plates were also destroyed. Unfortunately, this led to a number of volumes being produced without the relevant color plates.
The 6 volumes on offer are quite unique in that five of them still retain their original dust-jackets which has preserved the green buckram cloth and the gilding. There appears to be very little in the way of foxing, but, the cloth covers on some of the volumes show some spots of discoloration due to moisture. Two books, volumes 1 and 4, are inscribed to “E.M.Newberry 1917” and the remaining four to “R.A.Newberry 1937”
These original sets (as is the one offered above) can be distinguished by the non-inclusion on fig. 59 in volume IV, which was accidently left out during the binding process. A copy of this missing illustration can be found in the "Veld and Flora" June 1986.
The set has numerous text figures and some 180 odd colour plates. I have found one colour plate loose but it only needs to be re-attached to its binding. Should you wish to see more photos, please contact me.
I have estimated that shipping by post will be in the region of R150 maximum - otherwise I am happy to get a quote from FedEx.
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