As well as being a slave-owner and printer, John Lunan (1771-1838) was also a planter, botanist, magistrate and a Member of the Jamaican House of Assembly. He published numerous works from this press e.g. ‘An Abstract of the Laws of Jamaica Relating to Slaves’ in 1819. As the “owner*”* of many slaves so it is likely this book was printed with their labour.
A scarce West Indian imprint: “The most complete system of Jamaican botany extant” (Sabin), this was a substantial text from the press, which was a Lunan family venture. The text is quite discursive with commentaries on the origins, properties and habitat of the island flora. The last copy recorded at auction was at Sotheby’s New York in 1981. Lunan died leaving as estate some 30,000 sterling.
Provenance: Reverend Lewis Bowerbank (1782-1853), a much loved Rector of St. Catherine, Jamaica from 1823-43. with his ownership inscription on both titlepages. He retired to Corsham in Wiltshire. The book was well rebound fairly recently and the binder has retained the original small labels from the Jamaica stationer and bookbinder Gordon & Osborn of Kingston.
Sabin 42683.