Discover a truly remarkable piece of botanical history. This offering centers on a pristine first edition copy of the definitive 1952 monograph, Ustilaginales of India, a cornerstone text on smut fungi written by two of India’s most celebrated plant pathologists, Dr. Balchandra Bhavanishankar Mundkur (founder of the Indian Phytopathological Society) and Dr. M. J. Thirumalachar.
This specific copy is of immense archival significance. It contains an original signed slip by B. B. Mundkur, alongside a beautifully inscribed and dated 1959 signature by M. J. Thirumalachar, written during his tenure at the Commonwealth Mycological Institute (CMI) in Kew.
An Unparalleled Archival Lot
Enhancing this volume’s research and collection value is an included 1938 offprint of “Notes on Some Ustilaginales from India” by G. P. Clinton and George L. Zundel (originally published in Mycologia Vol. XXX, No. 3). This historic offprint is explicitly marked “Compliments of the Author” and serves as a testament to the mid-century global collaboration between top American and Indian mycological authorities. Additionally, the lot includes two vintage handwritten bibliographic note slips (c. 1960s–1970s) specifically referencing sugarcane smut research, offering an intimate window into a past researcher’s workflow.
An irreplaceable addition for university special collections, botanical libraries, or dedicated collectors of signed first-edition scientific literature.
Specifications
Title: Ustilaginales of India
Authors: B. B. Mundkur & M. J. Thirumalachar
Publisher: Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew
Edition: 1952 First Edition (Stated)
Binding: Original cloth boards
Pagination: c. 83 pages with complete index
Included Ephemera: 1938 Clinton & Zundel offprint, 2x vintage research notes
Shipping: Free UK shipping (Eco-conscious packaging) | Worldwide shipping available
Condition Report
The volume is in clean, secure, and complete vintage condition. The original cloth binding remains firm. The internal pages exhibit mild, uniform age-toning entirely consistent with a mid-century text, with no significant staining or structural degradation. The accompanying offprint and slips are well-preserved.
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