An Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus Vols I & II by John Miller - 1779

London: Published as the Act directs & Sold at the Author's House in Dorset Court near Parliament, 1779 A very good set in largely contemporary full leather bindings with 191 plates. Vol I is dated 1779; Vol II has a different title: 'An Illustration of the Termini Botanici of Linnaeus' and is dated 1789, but they are separate parts of the same work. All the illustrations were completed by Miller, who was an eminent illustrator of botanical works. The bindings are in very good clean condition. The original straight-grained morocco boards have gilt lines to edges and gilt decoration to inner board edges. The spines are newer leather with gilt lined raised bands, title labels and gilt volume numbers. The spines are slightly darker than the boards and the boards have some darkening to edges. There is light edge and corner wear. The original dark blue endpapers have been retained with repair and have the bookplate of Holland House to the front pastedown. The books do not lie flat when opened. All page edges gilted. Vol I: 2 initial blanks; black and white frontispiece; title; preface with errata pp 1-4; index 5-8; one colour plate; text pp i-xvi; text with plates - the text being numbered with reference to the relevant plate - pp 1-106 with 104 hand coloured plates (plates 101 and 104 were never printed); 2 final blanks. Vol II: 2 initial blanks; title; preface 2pp; errata 1p; text 1-86 with 85 hand coloured plates (plate 20 was never printed); 2 final blanks. The Holland House bookplate is pasted upside down to the rear pastedown. The plates are very clean. The image is sometimes visible through the paper. Text pages are toned with occasional marks and some darkening to top page edges. There is a repaired bottom edge tear to p ix, and small loss to the side edge of Plate 93 in Vol I.