Gilbert Westacott Reynolds, The Aloes of South Africa, Ed. Balkema, 1982

F

irst published in 1950, this fourth edition is a reissue of that publication with three addenda that describe 18 new species, and record various name changes: Part 1 offers a history of aloes in South Africa, aloe taxonomy and nomenclature. Part 2 classifies 150 South Africa species including name, author, synonymy, full description of wild state, distribution and type locality, medicinal uses, natural hybrids. 538 pages includes index, glossary, 650 photos with 31 in full color.

Gilbert Westacott Reynolds (1895-1967) was the doyen of Aloe students from 1930 to 1966. The first bibliography of his work is provided. It lists a total of 122 publications on the genus, of which 8 are books, the major ones being The Aloes of South Africa (1950, with three later editions) and The Aloes of Tropical Africa and Madagascar (1966). He published 73 papers in the Journal of South African Botany in which species were revised and new ones described. He named 83 new species and 19 new varieties: these 102 names account made him the most prolific publisher of such names of all time. It is emphasized that Reynolds aimed to illustrate his publications with high quality photos and a previously unpublished proof plate is included as an example of his work. He published a series of travelogues from which brief extracts with commentaries are included. Notes are also provided on some of his major collaborators for his studies in tropical Africa and on his commemorations and awards.

Quarta Edizione rivista ed ampliata del 1982, a copertina rigida in tela verde con titoli e fregi in oro al piatto e al dorso; dotata di sovracoperta lucida fotografica a colori; rilegata a filo; stampata su carta semi-lucida di buona qualità; corredata da fotografie a colori su carta patinata f.t. e fotografie e disegni in B/N nel testo.

Non sempre semplice da acquistare, recenti quotazioni sul mercato internazionale lo hanno posizionato oltre gli €220.

Come Nuovo [stante l’età del libro, non si notano danni strutturali, scritte, segni, strappi o usure particolari che vadano evidenziate; legatura snodata e molto robusta; copertine rigide pressoché intatte; sovracoperta completa e integra, senza rotture e con piccolissime abrasioni di bordo trascurabili; ingiallimento della carta lievemente presente ai bordi ma più che nella norma; coste ancora più che dignitosamente luminose].