SPRENGEL, Christian Konrad (1750-1816). Das entdeckte Geheimniss der Natur im Bau und in der Befruchtung der Blumen.

SPRENGEL, Christian Konrad (1750-1816).  Das entdeckte Geheimniss der Natur im Bau und in der Befruchtung der Blumen. Berlin: bei Friedrich Vieweg dem æltern, 1793. 4to (249 x 210mm). Engraved title with decorative pictorial border, 24 later facsimile plates, unbound and secured at the end by a card band, at the end (text lightly browned and stained, a few darker spots). Contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, spine with red morocco lettering-piece (extremities lightly rubbed). Provenance: typed description tipped-onto front pastedown; pencil annotation; from the Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune. FIRST EDITION OF THE EARLIEST STUDY ON POLLINATION. Sprengel’s work discusses the relationship between pollination and the insect fertilization of flowers and, although it was generally neglected in his lifetime, it influenced several of Darwin's works. Dibner Heralds 30; Junk Rara S63; Nissen BBI 1883; Norman 1990; cf. PMM 165 (note); Pritzel 8856; Sparrow Milestones of Science 184; Stafleu and Cowan TL2 12672.