PALISOT DE BEAUVOIS, Ambroise Marie François Joseph.

Prodrome des Cinquième et Sixième Familles de l'Aethéogamie. Les Mousses. Les Lycopodes.Paris, [François-Ignace and Jean-Baptiste II?] Fournier fils, 1805. 8vo in 4s. Twentieth-century blue boards, morocco spine label, marbled edges.

      - (2), ii, 114 pp. BMC NH, p. 1504; Howard Crum, "Bibliographic Notes on Palisot de Beauvois'Prodome," in: Bull. Torrey Botan. Club, vol. 79, pp. 407-409; Pritzel 6897; Stafleu & Cowan 7213; OCLC WorldCat (7 copies); An early taxonomy of mosses and club mosses (lycopods) that "ranks high among the early taxonomic treatments of both mosses and lycopods" (Crum) and proved especially important for bryologists, because it appeared in the formative years of bryological nomenclature. About one-third of the mosses were collected in North America. A two-page "avertissement" places mosses and club mosses in the broader scheme of Linnaean taxonomy, followed by a 12-page introduction to the mosses, descriptions of 41 genera (about 10 new), and a 53-page table of known varieties of mosses. After a page of errata come a 5-page introduction to the club mosses, descriptions of 7 genera and an 8-page table. Part of the text was originally published in Magasin Encyclopédique, volume 5. Palisot (1752-1820) eschewed the word "cryptogam," prefering "aethéogamie," because there was nothing "cryptic" about the production of these groups, which he considered unusual at most. With a lengthy manuscript note by R.B. (?) in the foot margin of one page. In fine condition. The lovely modern binding also fine. An important early taxonomic work on mosses and club mosses.