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North American Sylva is the English title of the 1810 book set in three volumes – Histoire des Arbres Forestiers de l'Amérique Septentrionale, by François André Michaux ( ' → frahn- ahn- mee-'''; 1770–1855) – translated in 1816. Michaux was a French botanist who, in this work, described trees and forests of North America.

History
Michaux, having been accompanied by his father André Michaux (1746–1802), was dispatched by France to the United States in the early 19th century primarily to identify trees suitable for cultivation in France. André's works were published in Latin in 1801, Histoire des Chênes de l'Amérique ou Déscriptions et Figures de Toutes Espèceset Variétés des Chênes de l'Amérique Septentrionale [The Oaks of North America], and posthumously in Latin in 1803, Flora Boreali-Americana [The Flora of North America], in two volumes.

John Jay Smith, in the preface of F.A. Michaux's 1953 edition, stated, "The Foundation of the North American Sylva, was laid by the laborious researches of the elder Michaux [that is, André Michaux, father of François André Michaux]".

François holds the distinction of authoring the first published flora of the North America. André is the namesake of the Michaux State Forest in Pennsylvania. Both men belonged to the American Philosophical Society.

François Michaux departed America permanently in 1808 and settled in Paris, dedicating himself to refining his seminal manuscript. Titled the North American Sylva, the work was initially published in French across three volumes in Paris between 1810 and 1813, later translated and published in English in 1819, also in Paris. During one of his journeys, William Maclure (1763–1840) encountered Michaux in Paris and upon arriving in New York in July 1825, Maclure corresponded with his friend Benjamin Silliman (1779–1864), the founder of the American Geological Society.

Having purchased the original copperplates derived from artworks by Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759–1840) and Pancrace Bessa (1772–1846), Maclure asserted that no further editions could be produced in France. His aim was to issue a new American edition, evident from the prospectus issued as early as 1828. This document proposed the publication of Michaux's "Sylva Americana",' a title in Latin never appearing on any title page. The prospectus reiterated Maclure's previous communications to Silliman, adding that his intention was not only to distribute the copies acquired from Michaux but also to produce a new edition. With full ownership of the copper plates capable of printing thousands of copies, Maclure planned a subscription-based release in installments of five plates, each colored true to nature, at one dollar per installment. Additionally, he intended to include several tree species omitted by Michaux to enhance the work's completeness, planning to commence publication upon securing one hundred subscribers.

Maclure's pessimistic forecast regarding the extinction of native North American trees proved unfounded, despite his observations of trees being regularly felled for agriculture and construction. Notably, every American tree species described by Michaux remains extant in the wild, with the exception of Franklinia, a species Michaux himself had never encountered outside of cultivated gardens.

The North American Sylva represented a significant undertaking at New Harmony, distinguished by its comprehensive scope and extensive content. Unlike other works printed there, it was appealing for early printing due to its completed text and prepared engraved plates ready for printing.

In a letter dated January 2, 1829, Marie Duelos Fretageot, Maclure's agent, detailed the initial preparations for printing the Sylva, writing to Maclure who had relocated to Mexico due to his dissatisfaction with the climate in southwestern Indiana.

1842 edition
"The second part of the first volume was published in 1843. — Michaux's work was first published in French, in 1810, translated into English by Mr. Hillhouse, and published with the same plates in Paris, in 1819. — Not long after, the remaining copies and coppers, were purchased by Mr. Maclure, and sent to the United States. Id 1840, a new edition of the English translation was printed at New Harmony, on very bad paper, and with a worn out type, and, contrary to the intentions of Mr. Maclure, put at so high a price, that few copies were sold. — Latterly, all the remaining copies were destroyed by a fire on the premises where they were stored. — The present work is intended to be a continuation or rather completion of that work, containing all the trees and shrubs which were omitted by Michaux, or have been discovered since. But Mr. Nuttall having returned to England to take possession of an ample family inheritance, it is to be feared that the work will not be completed, notwithstanding that he committed the whole of the manuscript to the hands of the publisher, before be left the United States. — The paper and typography of this part are good, and the coloured lithographic plates respectable ; it is therefore to be hoped, that the publisher will find sufficient encouragement to go on with it".

Editions
Micheax, in 1910, completed Histoire des Arbres Forestiers de l'Amérique Septentrionale and first published it in twenty-four parts, issued in pairs from July 1810 to March 1813, before being collected into three volumes. An English edition of the Sylva was originally planned in six half-volumes, but a seventh was added to help accommodate the extra plates and the corresponding text.

Illustrators
Color stipple engravings by:
 * Marie Joseph Bessin (French; 1765–1838)
 * Georges François Marie Gabriel (1775–1865)
 * Jean-Augustin Renard (fr) (French; 1744–1807)
 * P.A. Cally
 * Pierre Jean Boquet (fr) (French; 1751–1817)
 * Du Breuil
 * Jean Nicolas Joly (French; 1774–1836) (with added hand color)


 * Jacquinot, Lse. Fse. (French; née Louise Françoise Jacquinot; active Paris, 1789–1805)

Botanical illustrations by:
 * Pancrace Bessa (French; 1772–1846),
 * Pierre-Joseph Redouté (Austrian Netherlands; 1759–1840),
 * Henri-Joseph Redouté (fr) (1766–1852),
 * Redouté, A. (Antoine) (1756-1809)
 * Adèle Riché (French; 1791–1878).

Translation
Michaux's Histoire des chênes de l'Amérique was first translated from French to English (North American Sylva) in 1817 by Augustus Lucas Hillhouse (1792–1859).

Histoire des Arbres Forestiers de l'Amérique Septentrionale (French eds.)


           

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North American Sylva (translated English eds.)

 * ISBN 978-0-6653-8578-0;.

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Added: 122 Finely Coloured Plates by Thomas Nutterall, F.L.S.


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New volumes by Nuttall (in English)


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Initial reception
"During twelve years he [Michaux] explored the regions of North America with the most commendable diligence, between the Gulf of Mexico and Hudson's Bay. The result of his minute and extensive inquiries makes a very important body of intelligence ... Michaux's work may be said to form an era in the botany of our country. It is made to conform to the Linnaean system. It facilitates exceedingly almost every inquiry into the history of our vegetables, both indigenous imported. It is the guide for surveying of our states and territories. With regions with an ease and advantage American Flora was published."

Other books about Trees of North America
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 * Retrieved July 15, 2024. ; ISBN 978-0-7892-1276-4; ISBN 978-0-7892-5458-0 (notecard set; 2021 ed.);.

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 * Retrieved July 15, 2024..

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 * Retrieved July 15, 2024. ;.