The Correspondence of John Ray: Consisting of Selections from the Philosophical Letters. Published by Dr. Derham and the Original Letters of John Ray, in the British Museum by Ray, John

Edited by Edwin Lankester, Secretary to the Ray Society. London: Ray Society, 1848. First edition (xvii, 502; index), one of two collections published by the Society. Tall octavo in three-quarter red leather over cloth, gilt titles, five raised bands, t.e.g. Two full-page engraved b&w illustrations (frontispiece bust of Ray; Dewlands, Ray’s house), foxed and stained. John Ray (1627- 1705) published a number of works on natural history but is best known for his Historia Plantarum in which he advanced a method of classification of plants according to observed likenesses and differences rather than classifying plants according to fanciful notions of the general way of things. Most of these letters (some of which are in Latin and defeat Miss Porter’s heroic efforts to teach me that language) date from 1659- 1705; several are those written by Margaret Ray immediately subsequent to Ray’s death. A trifle worn and rubbed around the edges, engravings foxed as noted. Still, quite a nice copy of a scarce collection of Ray’s correspondence.