MAINDRON (Mauritius). The Tree of Science. Modern novel. Paris: Alphonse Lemerre, 1906. - In-18, 189 x 122: (4 ff. first blank), 446 pp., (1 f.), printed cover. Havana half-marroquin with corners, gold fillets, spine ribbed with gold fillets, mosaic leaves of dark green morocco and a rosette of red morocco, head gilt, untrimmed , cover and spine preserved (Franz). Original edition of this novel about the Museum of Natural History. In this work, "the author draws a pleasant satire of the microcosm of the Garden of Plants, through the adventures of characters inspired in whole or in part by real-life scientists: the traveling naturalists Médéric Bonnereau and Lucien de Saint-Pol, professors Mirifisc, Père, Descelliers, de Musimon, Valentin Guyot, Tempter, Lebasset, etc.. Maindron contrasts, in a Balzac-like plot, ignorant but ambitious academics, relying on politicians, with true naturalists, often devoid of diplomas, but fervent followers of scientific travel, honest monographs and collections. For the novelist, natural history research is threatened by the practice of teaching, the professor excluding the naturalist [...] It should be noted that at the time when L'Arbre de science was published, the Museum was looking for a vocation between pure science and teaching" (Jaussard, Du Jardin au Muséum en 516 biographies , 2004, p. 15). One of the 25 numbered paper copies from Holland, initialled by the publisher. Copy in mosaic binding by Franz, perfectly preserved.