Trees of paradise:Exquisite illustrations of the tropical palm
On December 15, 1868,Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius (17941868), Professor of Botany at the University of Munich and director of the Royal Botanic Garden, was carried to his grave in a coffin covered with fresh palm leaves. The fronds were a reference to his groundbreakingNatural History of Palms: a work in three volumes, published between 18231853.
This encyclopedic treasury of240 exquisite chromolithographic illustrationswas based on Martiuss expeditions through Brazil and Peru. From 1817 to 1820, he traveled over2,250 km (1,400 miles) through the Amazon basinto investigate natural history and native tribes with zoologist Johann Baptist von Spix.
The result was an unrivaled catalog of all known genera of the palm family, outlining the modern classification of palms, describing all the palms of Brazil, and producing the first maps of palm biogeography. Martiuss folio is unusual in its inclusion of cross-sectioned diagrams, conveying the architecture of these mighty trees, which central Europeans would have found hard to imagine accurately. Equally remarkable are the color landscapes showing various palmsoften standing alone in simple and elegant beauty.
This encyclopedic treasury of240 exquisite chromolithographic illustrationswas based on Martiuss expeditions through Brazil and Peru. From 1817 to 1820, he traveled over2,250 km (1,400 miles) through the Amazon basinto investigate natural history and native tribes with zoologist Johann Baptist von Spix.
The result was an unrivaled catalog of all known genera of the palm family, outlining the modern classification of palms, describing all the palms of Brazil, and producing the first maps of palm biogeography. Martiuss folio is unusual in its inclusion of cross-sectioned diagrams, conveying the architecture of these mighty trees, which central Europeans would have found hard to imagine accurately. Equally remarkable are the color landscapes showing various palmsoften standing alone in simple and elegant beauty.
About the Series:
Bibliotheca Universalis Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe at an unbeatable, democratic price!
Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, the name TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible, open-minded publishing.Bibliotheca Universalisbrings together nearly 100 of our all-time favorite titles in a neat new format so you can curate your own affordable library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia.
Bookworms delight never bore, always excite!
Bibliotheca Universalis Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe at an unbeatable, democratic price!
Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, the name TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible, open-minded publishing.Bibliotheca Universalisbrings together nearly 100 of our all-time favorite titles in a neat new format so you can curate your own affordable library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia.
Bookworms delight never bore, always excite!
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