1788 J. J. Plenck (b1737), Chinese cinnamon, large folio hand colored, botany

Laurus Cassia

Die Cassie 

Cinnamomum cassia, called Chinese cassia or Chinese cinnamon, is an evergreen tree originating in southern China, and widely cultivated there and elsewhere in South and Southeast Asia (India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam). It is one of several species of Cinnamomum used primarily for their aromatic bark, which is used as a spice. The buds are also used as a spice, especially in India, and were used by the ancient Romans.

Dimensions

Handcolored engraving by Joseph Jacob Plenck, from “Icones Plantarum Medicinalium”, published in Vienna, between 1788 and 1803.  

Joseph Jakob Ritter Plenk or Plenck (1738–1807) was an Austrian physician and polymath. He is now known as a pioneer dermatologist.  

This exceptionally rare, folio engraving features original hand-coloring on chain-linked paper. Icones Plantarum cataloged 700 medicinal botanical species and included both Latin and German text.