10
Linnaei Systema naturae et Mantissa prior.
3. tom. in 4. vol.
8
vo.
editio
12
mo.
1815 Catalogue, page 46. no. 12, as above, omitting
3. tom. in 4. vol.
LINNAEUS,
Carolus.
Caroli a Linné . . . Systema Naturæ per Regna tria Naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis,
synonymis, locis . . . Editio
duodecima, reformata . . .
Holmiæ: impensis Direct.
Laurentii Salvii,
1766-1768.
8vo. 3 vol. in 4. Vol. II contains
Mantissa Plantarum
.
Krok, page 425.
Hulth, page 9.
Catalogue of the Works of Linnaeus in the Libraries of the British Museum, no. 62.
According to the Library of Congress catalogues Jefferson’s copy of this work was of the
twelfth edition.
Jefferson bought a number of the works of Linnaeus at various times between 1785 and 1808. Several (including this work) were
on the list selected from the library of the Rev. Samuel Henley in 1785. In 1787, whilst in Paris, Jefferson bought from
Froullé and from
Lackington, through
Stockdale, copies of this and other treatises by Linnaeus, and in 1808 tried to import others from Amsterdam through Mayer & Brantz,
who however were doubtful of success as “
so vexatious are at present the forms of clearing out American vessels with Cargoes from Holland.”
Jefferson discussed at length the system of classification of Linnaeus in the letter to Dr. John Manners, written on February
22, 1814, in which he compared the systems of the various scientists. His remarks on Linnaeus read in part: “
. . . fortunately for science, he concieved in the three kingdoms of nature, modes of classification which obtained the approbation
of the learned of all nations. his system was accordingly adopted by all, and united all in a general language. it offered
the three great desiderata 1. of aiding the memory to retain a knolege of the productions of nature. 2. of rallying all to
the same names for the same objects, so that they could communicate understandingly on them. and 3. of enabling them, when
a subject was first presented, to trace it by it’s characters up to the conventional name by which it was agreed to be called.
”
Farther on in the same letter he wrote: “
In what I have said on the Methods of classing I have not at all meant to insinuate that that of Linnaeus is intrinsically
preferable to those of Blumenbach and Cuvier. I adhere to the Linnean because it is sufficient as a groundwork; admits of
supplementary insertions, as new productions are discovered, and mainly because it has got into so general use that it will
not be easy to displace it . . .
”
Carolus Linnaeus [Carl von Linné], 1707-1778, Swedish scientist. The first edition of this book appeared in 1735 and was published at the expense of Gronovius.
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11
Linnaei Mantissa altera.
8
vo.
1815 Catalogue, page 46. no. 13, as above.
LINNAEUS,
Carolus.
Car. a Linné . . . Mantissa Plantarum altera Generum editionis VI. & Specierum editionis II . . . Holmiæ: Impensis Direct.
Laurentii Salvii,
1771.
QK91 .M3
8vo. 226 leaves; signatures and pagination continuous from
Pars Prima (see the previous number).
Krok, page 434.
Hulth, page 25.
Catalogue of the Works of Linnaeus in the Libraries of the British Museum no. 312.
This was one of the books selected by Jefferson from the library of the Rev. Samuel Henley, in March 1785.
Dedicated to Frederick Calvert, 7th Lord Baltimore.
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