Rare first and only edition of this important early contribution to the founding of paleobotany: the study of fossil plants. The study expands on the first works that formulated the basic conceptions of this new field of research by Rhode, Pflanzenkunde der Vorwelt (1820) and Kaspar Sternbergs Flora der Vorwelt (1820-1825). "Defrance was one of the most industrious and careful of the early papaeontographical annotators. In his Tableau ... he gave a short account of all known fossils, with accurate mention of their localities and state of preservation" (Zittel).
Jacques Louis Marin Defrance (1758-1850) was founder member of the Geological Society of France and was one of the first to work on the chemistry of fossilization.
With the owner's entry of "Holmi" on the front endpaper and an 1849 inscription by Holmi to "Lhörch" on the title page. Binding worn at the hinges and sides. Ward & Carozzi, 613; Zittel, p. 126; Cat.. du livres ... de feu J.B. Huzare, no. 2135; Bibl. of the Foraminifera (1888), p. 38; Ward, Sketch of Paleobotany (1885), p. 405.