FRIES, Elias M.

Stockholm & Uppsala, P. A. Norstedt & söner / Ed. Berling, 1867-84. Folio. 116,+ (2) pp.+ 100 chromolith. plates; (2),+ VII,+ (blank),+ 104 pp.+ lith. portrait,+ 100 chromolith. plates. Minor foxing in margins. More to plates nrs. 38, 91-92, 111, 192-194. Plate nr. 200 with minor tear. Loose in sheets as issued, in 18 parts (2 double), all with printed wrappers. The wrappers to part I:1, I:9 and II: 9-10 worn. Preface, portrait and the final title page to part two in II:9-10. From the library of Nils Fries. Lacks the dedication leaf. Volbracht 664. Uellner 494. Stafleu 1894. Krok 131. Nissen 655. The title leaf to ”fasc. primus” of vol. two, which was meant to be cancelled, is present, as is the final title page. Both parts were published in 10 fasciculus each and printed in 200 copies. Fasc. 2-10 of volume two (1878-84) were posthumously edited by Elias’ sons Th. M. and Robert Fries, who in the preface to part two gives a biographical sketch of Elias Fries (in latin). A fine set in original form of Elias Fries’ magnificent last work, with colour plates of not before depicted species of Hymenomycetes (a today obsolete taxonomic class belonging to the subgroup Agaricomycotina) collected by Fries at the Kungl. Riksmuseet in Stockholm. Most of the depicted species were also described by Fries in his ”Monographia Hymenomycetum Sueciae” (1857). This class - however obsolete - contains most of the familiar fungi! The plates are after drawings of Elias Fries and lithographed mainly by E. Pettersson and P. Åkerlund. Fine provenance from Elias M. Fries’ descendant Nils Fries (1912-94), also professor of botany at the university of Uppsala.