Mushrooms. SOWERBY. Coloured figures of English fungi or mushrooms. 3 volumes in-folio, 322x202 mm; Contemporary half-morocco binding, marbled cardboard, spines with gold titles and ornaments, gilt upper edges, marbled endpapers. 110 uncoated sheets with title pages, indexes and explanatory text. 440 numbered engravings on 436 leaves; joined in one table the engravings 422-423 and 439-440, the engraving 427 joined to the 425 and indicated with the numbers 1 and 2, as reported in the explanatory text. The 440 engravings are all hand-colored, almost all pulled on cardboard, in first issue. Heraldic ex libris 'Gharlard Castle'. Excellent condition, fresh specimen. First edition. The most attractive illustrated English work on mycology ever published, and a famous classic in its field. Our copy includes the rare supplement which is often lacking: this supplement, published in 1809, contains the suite of plates ranging from 401 to 440. It was Sowerby himself who did the drawing and engraving of the plates, which are all beautifully handcolored. James Sowerby sometimes printed the plates in a color other than black. Henry: "James Sowerby dedicated his 'Coloured figures of English fungi' to Sir Joseph Banks and J.E. Smith jointly. 'To the first of these gentlemen' - wrote Sowerby - I have great obligations for granting me access to the first library in the world, as well as most ready assistance in any enquiry whatever relating to natural history." A fine and unusually fresh copy without any foxing to the plates.