90. LINNE (Charles). Genera plantarum Eorumque Characteres n - Lot 90

90. LINNE (Charles). Genera plantarum Eorumque Characteres naturales. Paris, M. A. David, 1743. In-8, xxxii, [1] f., 413 p., [59] p., marbled fawn basane, ornate ribbed spine. Second edition of this famous work by Linnaeus, in which he introduces his system of plant classification, based on the characteristics of the reproductive organs, which laid the foundations for the binomial nomenclature still used today to name living species. The text is illustrated with a fold-out table giving the classification key and two plates of botanical figures. Provenance: from the library of Jean Debry (1760-1834), attested by his bookplate engraved with the imperial eagle on the back cover. Jean Debry was a deputy at the Convention, where he voted for the death of Louis XVI, and a member of the Comité de salut public (Public Safety Committee), before coming into contact with Bonaparte and being re-elected to the Cinq-Cents. He cooperated in the Floréal coup d'état and was appointed Prefect of Doubs. During the Hundred Days, he accepted the prefecture of Bas-Rhin from the Emperor, but was dismissed during the Second Restoration and exiled to Mons, where he died. Binding rubbed, one headband worn, corners dulled, some foxing, other defects minor. (Plesch, 311 for a post. ed.).