A Sketch of the Botany of South Carolina and Georgia in Two Volumes.
Charleston, South Carolina: J. R. Schenck, 1821. Two Volume Set. (4), 583, [iii]-vi, [585]-606; viii, 743, 10 (of 12) engraved plates depicting plants (lacks Plates 5-6). Hardcover in full leather bindings. Boards loosening, most notably on the rear board of Volume 1. Persistent moderate to heavy foxing, the 12 plates heavily foxed, as per usual. Volume 1 lacks the title page. Loss of some spine cover leather on Volume 1. Previous owner bookplates on front pastedown and old library markings on lower spine. Ex-Lib. but most likely non-circulated.
Elliott (1771-1830), a native of Beaufort, S.C., and a 1791 graduate of Yale, served in a number of state political offices until 1812 when he was elected president of the newly established Bank of the State of South Carolina, a position he held until his death. "[Now best known] as a naturalist, between 1800 and 1808 he lived in comparative retirement on his plantation in Beaufort, and during this period collected, examined, and prepared material for [this book]. It is said to have contained 180 genera and 1000 more species than the 'Flora Caroliniana' of Thomas Walter" (DAB). Bound at the rear of volume two is a 12-page publisher's catalogue with a separate title page "Catalogue of a Valuable Collection of English, French and American Medical Books, for sale by E., L. Carey and A. Hart, Corner of Chestnut and Fourth Streets" (Philadelphia, 1832; OCLC locates two copies: AAS, Utah). Sabin 22276. American Imprints 5243 and 16503. Turnbull, II, p. 70. De Renne I, pp. 375. Item #100012
Price: $2,200.00