Complete rare series on Brazilian botany with 70 beautiful lithographed plates, published in 14 instalments by the French explorer, botanist and entomologist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire (1779-1853). The work particularly concerns plants which are native to North-East and South-East Brasil, mainly concerning the north-eastern provinces as Bahia, Ceará, Piauí and Maranhão, but also the other east coastal provinces as Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. After a journey of six years through Brazil (1816-1822), he brought home to France a vast collection of plants, mammals, birds and reptiles. There he dedicated himself to the publication of the results of his Brazilian journeys by working on several publications at the same time. The long journey and the pressure of work took their toll, however, and Saint-Hilaire fell ill. He was able to continue his work but not alone. Beginning with part 9 his two co-authors are named on the wrapper as well. Two respected colleagues, Adrien de Jussieu and Jacques Cambessèdes took over the largest part of the work. De Saint-Hilaire recovered to some degree and together they continued their work. A note in part 9 assures the readers and subscribers that the style and quality will not suffer from this change. Saint-Hilaire intended to issue 50 parts, but only these 14 were actually printed. Each instalment contains 5 plates with accompanying text. The text for each plate has its own pagination. A slip on the wrapper of part 4 notes that subscribers will receive a reprint of part 1 with new plates ("Les Éditeurs, désirant rendre cet ouvrage aussi parfait ..."). Part 1 is therefore dated 1827, like parts 9 and 10.
Some text leaves in the last 3 parts foxed, a tear in the back wrapper of one part and a marginal worm hole in the front wrapper and first leaf of another. In very good condition. Borba de Moraes, p. 762 ("rare when complete"); Nissen, BBI 1717; Pritzel 7987; Stafleu & Cowan 10032.