Curtis, W.
The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed... To which are added, their names, class, order, generic and specific characters, according to the celebrated Linnaeus; their places of growth, and times of flowering: together with the most approved methods of culture. A work intended for the use of such ladies, gentlemen, and gardeners, as wish to become scientifically acquainted with the plants they cultivate. Volumes 1-53 and index.
London, for the author, [1787]-1793-1826. 4to (24.5 x 15.5 cm). With 2709 hand-coloured engraved plates (over 150 of these folding and a few uncoloured). A complete set of the first and second series. Bound in contemporary green half calf with gilt lettering and marbled boards.
Curtis' Botanical Magazine became the longest running botanical journal in history. It was published under various titles bearing Curtis' name until 1983. William Curtis (1746-1799) was an apothecary who sold his business to concentrate on his real interest: the study of natural history. He began the Botanical Magazine in 1787, a journal devoted to decorative and unusual plants that appealed to gardeners. Fore edges uncut. Title pages are dated 1793 onwards. Some plates with faint (ranging to light) offsetting to the white background of the image. A few pages and plates slightly browned or age-toned. The hand-colouring of plates still bright. Plant number 120 is present uncoloured, without text. An index to plant families, in a contemporary hand, is present on the blank versos of the volume indexes, or as a separate blank sheet. Overall, a good set in a contemporary binding with expertly renewed flyleaves. Two volumes expertly rebacked in matching green morocco, some of the boards with new, marbled paper in matching contemporary style. Nissen BBI, 2350; Stafleu and Cowan, 1290; Hunt 184, Great Flower Books, 2.For more images of this title, please visit the following link: https://goo.gl/photos/XD9F5hpcHi67xSKM9
