Fifty-seven newly-named fungi, five new combinations, and fifty-two totally new taxa are only part of the significance of Johan Theodor Holmskjold's Beata Ruris Otia Fungis Danicis Impensa, or Happy Resting Periods in the Country Studying Danish Fungi.

The manuscript to this fine work was finished already before 1770, but not until 1790 Theodor Holmskiold (1731–93) was persuaded to have the work printed and published only in few copies. The 33 engravings were drawn by J. Neander, engraved by A. Heckel and the colouring in the even fewer copies were made by J.C. Bayer - summoned from Germany to colouring the Flora Danica service at the Royal Porcelain Factory, where Holmskiold was manager. The plates illustrate the appearances of the fungi during growth and ripening and one plate shows the inner structures.

After Holmskiolds death in 1793 the remaining copies and the plates were bought by Søren Gyldendal and together with a prepatory manuscript to a second volume with further 42 plates by J.C. Bayer was al published with the collective title: Beata ruris otia fungis Danicis.

Extremely rare.

Reference: Nissen: Die Botanische Buchillustration. Stuttgart 1966, #906.