WALLACE, Alfred Russel (ed.).

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Notes of a Botanist on the Amazon & Andes, First edition, publisher's presentation copy for review, with its blind stamp on the title pages and printed review notice loosely inserted. Spruce was sent to South America in 1849 by his wealthy botanical patrons, remaining there for 14 years. In late 1849, he travelled up the Amazon to Santarém, where he met Wallace, who was seeking evidence for his theories of evolution.On his travels, Spruce identified many new species of plant, including 200 species of fungi and a number of plants with medicinal properties, including the datura and coca plants. In 1852, he interrupted his travels to assist Wallace, who had been struck down by malaria, and oversee his safe passage down the river. After his friend's death in 1893, Wallace edited his botanical papers, and this work "reflects [Spruce's] gift for analysis, description, and narrative, along with his dry humour" (ODNB).

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