'A specimen of the botany of New Holland' was originally published in parts together with: Zoology of New Holland by George Shaw. The title of the combined work is: Zoology and botany of New Holland and the isles adjacent / the zoological part by George Shaw ; the botanical part by James Edward Smith. The set is incomplete. Plates 1-12 of 16 plates were printed and only Vol. I was published. This item includes hand coloured illustrations.

Australian plants began to become available commercially in Britain from the 1770s, but the arrival in Australia of the First Fleet in 1788 significantly increased their availability, and the level of interest in growing the newly discovered species. Depictions of the new plants appeared in botanical magazines, however it was James Smith the English botanist, who produced the first book dealing with Australian plants.

Smith's work was based on the journal, drawings and specimens collected by Dr John White - the surgeon-general to the First Fleet. White also forwarded the first sample of Eucalyptus oil to Europe in 1788, being interested in its medicinal qualities. His journal was published in London in 1790.

Smith had first begun studying medicine, but increasingly turned to botany. In 1788 he formed the Linnaen Society in London. His Specimen of the botany of New Holland describes 27 new species, including two which are found in South Australia. The artist, James Sowerby, worked with Smith on many of his publications.

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