Jacques Étienne GAY (Nyons, Switzerland 1786-1864), botanist - Lot 85

Lot 85
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Jacques Étienne GAY (Nyons, Switzerland 1786-1864), botanist - Lot 85
Jacques Étienne GAY (Nyons, Switzerland 1786-1864), botanist who gave his name to some twenty species. 4 autograph letters signed to Honoré Ardoïno. 13 pp. in-8. Paris, 1858-1859. Fine letters, all devoted to botany (sometimes in a paternalistic tone), in particular to the flora of Menton and Monaco. "[...] I very much approve of the idea you have of sending our society an article on the flora of Monaco, but I would like it to be in the form of a Prodrome, avoiding any long list of plants, and giving particular attention to the influence of altitudes and seasonal phases on the vegetation of this charming little country, which I too have crossed, and where I picked some very nice things at a time when you were not yet very firm on your feet (Sept. 26. 1821). Please note that we despise catalogs here, and don't want any of them. You would then work seriously on a true Florida of the Principality of Monaco, which could become a charming little work, adorned with a few plates representing your most remarkable species [...]". He mentions his work on various plants and asks for his help. "It is therefore with the confidence of a colleague that I come, Sir, to ask for your assistance in a matter of botany involving a plant which is peculiar to your regions and which has remained completely unknown to me until now. I refer to Leucojum hyamale [...]". Explaining how to preserve them. "To dry Crocus properly, slit the top of the tube from top to bottom for half an inch, then spread out the 6 segments, separating the outer 3 from the inner 3 with a strip of soft paper, which will be removed later, after drying. In this way, all the parts of the flower will be revealed, the throat, filaments, style, etc., all things that remain invisible in the flower left whole and closed [...]".
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