Marcet Mary's Grammar

(MARCET, JANE). Conversations on Botany. Third edition enlarged. London, Longman, Hurst, etc., 1820.
Third enlarged edition of a beautifully illustrated natural history book for children, teaching botany according to the Linnaean system, first published in 1817. The book is sometimes ascribed to Elizabeth and Sarah Fitton, but other popular books by Mrs. Marcet refer to the author on their titles as the author of "Conversations on Botany". The book is entertainingly written in the form of conversations between a mother and her son. The beautiful hand-coloured plates are signed by Milton, and mostly dated 1817, but some were newly made for the present enlarged edition and are dated 1820. Mrs. Jane Marcet, born Haldimann (1769-1858), was Swiss from origin and married the Edinburgh physician A.J.G. Marcet in 1799. The counterpart to the present title, "Conversations on Chemistry", is said to have inspired Faraday when working as a boy in a bookbinder's shop. She also wrote "Conversations on Language", "Conversations on Political Economy", which was highly praised by Macaulay, and several other popular children's books.
Good copy.- (Binding very sl. rubbed, spine discoloured; old owner's ms. entry on first blank).
Not in Muir; cf. Osborne Coll. I, p. 128 ("Conversations on Language" from 1844); Osborne Coll. II, p. 829 ("Conversations on Chemistry", 2nd ed. of 1807, first published in 1806); Gumuchian 3946 ("Mary's Grammar" from 1840).

Sm.8vo. Contemp. cloth. With 21 engraved plates, one double-page, of plants, all beautifully coloured by hand. XXII, 263 pp.

[SW: English;Natural History;Children's Books]

Details