Michael Boym: «Flora Sinensis»
Wien 1656
From the Augsburg State and City Library
With an introduction and translation into German by Hartmut Walravens.
1 CD-ROM for Mac/PC; PDF
ISBN 3-89131-424-8
EUR 80.–
The Chinese Flora by the Polish Jesuit Michael Boym is the earliest illustrated presentation of Chinese flora and, contrary to the title, fauna. Boym only presents 21 plants and 8 animals, which he says are the principle fruits, trees and animals of the Chinese and Indians.
The Flora Sinensis is considered especially important because it is an authentic scientific work, which contains the earliest reports for certain species in the area.
This edition is based on one of the extremely rare coloured examples of the work.
