Publii Virgilii Maronis Georgicorum libri quatuor. The Georgicks of Virgil, with an English translation and notes. By John Martyn, F. R. S. Professor of Botany in the University of Cambridge by VIRGIL [John Martyn, 1699-1768] - 1746

London: Printed by R. Reily, for T. Osborne, in Gray's-Inn, 1746. Full Calf. Near Fine. 8vo: [2],xvi,[2],487,4,[13]pp, with advertisement leaf preceding title page and nine copperplate engravings (three folding), comprising world map, celestial chart, map of the Peloponnesus, two plows on one sheet, compass rose and four botanicals, all about Fine with barest hint of toning. Latin text with Martyn's English translation and copious commentary on agriculture and botany. Full calf, covers with edge roll in blind, spine richly gilt (central lozenge and leaf corner tools ) in six compartments between raised bands, red morocco lettering piece gilt, title page in red and black. Very skillfully rebacked with original spine laid down, pages clean and bright. Provenance: copper-engraved armorial bookplate to front paste down, with motto from Terence ("nihil humani a me alienum puto") and name defaced' owner's name (Frank W. Bush) in old ink to front fly leaf. A splendid copy. Rothschild 1392 and Gibson's Library, p. 278 (for first edition). Moss II, p. 724. ESTC Citation No. T67045. The Second Edition. In addition to his accomplishments as a botanist, John Martyn was a keen Latinist with a strong classical education, those two passions that merged in his later years, which he devoted to producing an edition of Virgil, with a translation and natural history notes. His first edition of the Georgicks appeared in 1741, one year before the copy on offer here, and the Bucolicks in 1749, but of the Aeneids he left only fragmentary material, which was seen into print only after his death. (ODNB).