Lot 629
CURTIS William
Auction: 21 July 2004 at 11:30 BST
Description
Flora londinensis: or plates and descriptions of such plants as grow wild in the environs of London … 1st edition, with 435 hand coloured engravings on 432 plates, 6 volumes, plates numbered by hand in ink throughout, contemporary half morocco, marbled boards, rubbed and with corners knocked, tear to plate 27 (no loss) in vol. 5 and with very neat marginal repair to the letter press of the Dog Rose in the same vol., a few prelim. index leaves creased, occasional spotting, otherwise a fine and completely uncut copy, folio, London: for the author, [1785-98] [6]
Note: Nissen BBI 439 With "A catalogue of certain plants, growing wild, chiefly in the region of Settle, in Yorkshire" bound at the end of vol. 4, and "General observations on seeds of our best grasses" at the end of vol. 6. Vol. 1 with title with engraved vignette and 2 lists of subscribers, title to vol. 2 dated 1798 bound at end of vol. 6.
Issued in 72 parts, the Flora Londinensis is much more comprehensive than its title might suggest, for it extends to most of the English flora. It could properly be regarded as the first colour-plate national flora. "Curtis adopted the novel plan of having specimens drawn to a uniform scale and to life size, and most of the plates display a high degree of accuracy. In the opinion of Salisbury, the majority of the figures 'represent the most successful portrayals of British wild flowers that have ever been achieved." (Henry II p. 67).