MARTIN, Matthew (fl.1785-1787)

MARTIN, Matthew (fl.1785-1787)

The Aurelian\'s Vade Mecum. Exeter: R. Trewman, 1785.

Extremely rare 18th-century botanical guide to habitats associated with English lepidoptera, with the preface expressly addressing a female readership. This book reflects a growing understanding of ecology: \'It may serve to remind the Aurelian what caterpillars may be sought for on certain Plants\' (p.vii), and the author\'s use of Linnaean nomenclature shows a certain scientific rigour, even if he has had \'considerable trouble to reduce the vulgar and irregular terms to the linnaean language.\' ESTC records only 8 copies, all in England (3 copies in the BL; 2 copies in Oxford at the Ashmolean and the OU Museum of Natural History; Cambridge; Linnean Society; and the Natural History Museum at South Kensington. BM(NH) VII Supp., 804; ETSC T22754; Freeman British Natural History Books 2486.



12mo (192 x 116mm). (Title faintly spotted, a little light soiling.) Disbound; contained in a modern box. Provenance: evidence of stamp erased on title – J.M. Chalmers-Hunt (bookplate to box).