Icones Mycologicae

ÉMILE BOUDIER'S FAMOUS ICONES MYCOLOGICAE AGAIN AVAILABLE

Mycologists will delighted to learn that the supply of the 1981 - 1982 four-volume reprint of Boudier's Icones Mycologicae, long believed to have been lost, was recently discovered and rescued by a Swiss amateur mycologist, Mr. R. Morier-Genoud, just prior to its planned destruction. He is now selling these.

This reprint edition was published by Editions Piantanida Lausanne, in Switzerland. It differs from the original edition (1904-1911) in providing also a new, FIFTH volume, published in 1985, containing the series of preliminary lists and explanations of the plates that were frequently discarded by recipients, but are frequently the nomenclaturally critical place of publication of Boudier's new names; there is also an introductory note by Dr. J. van Brummelin and extensive taxonomic revisions of the species that Boudier illustrated, prepared by Drs. Richard P. Korf (Discomycetes, Pyrenomycetes, Pilobolus, Deuteromycetes, Fuligo), Heinz Clémençon (Agaricales), Walter Jülich (Aphyllophorales, Phragmobasidiomycetes), and Vincent Demoulin (Gasteromycetes). In 1988 Korf reprinted his chapter with Annotated errata, some necessary changes in citations, and suggested changes based on recent taxonomic information. Copies of that annotated chapter may be requested from him at "RPK1@cornell.edu".

Korf had long searched for these 'lost' reprint volumes, which contain 600 exquisite colored plates in folio size. In his words, "Not only do I know of no more beautiful set of illustrations of fungi than these superb works or art and works of scientific accuracy, it was the discovery of these astounding plates that led me initially to a serious study of the discomycetes, and to find in them a lifelong passion." The reprint edition clearly captures very nearly all of the nuances of the earlier lithographs.

Almost all of these volumes have been sold. Four copies of the complete 5-volume reprint are available at 800 Swiss francs, plus postage and handling. (When issued, the 1985 price was 1750 Swiss francs.) Since many libraries that possess the original 1904 -1911 edition lack the material of the important fifth volume, that volume may be ordered alone, at 75 Swiss francs plus postage and handling. As of December 2007 only 4 of these remain. A few copies of Volume 2 (Operculate Discomycetes) and of Volume 4 (text describing the plates) are available at 180 Swiss francs plus postage amd handling. If your institutional library is lucky enough to have the original printing, be sure they also order volume 5 of the reprint. If they don't have the original, do all you can to get them to order the whole set!

To order, please contact Mr. Morier-Genoud's son, Mr. Samuel Morier-Genoud at samou74@hispeed.ch for an estimate of the postal charges, which are high. They accept checks or bank transfers, but not credit cards.