Lemaire, Charles, ed.

Half-titles. Illustration: 430 lithographic plates (26 folding) by Heyland and others, printed in colors and finished by hand with occasional heightening by gum arabic, 3 uncolored folding lithographic plates, numerous text vignettes.

4 volumes, 8vo (9 5/8 x 6 5/8 in.; 244 x 168 mm).  Binding: Contemporary quarter green morocco over green marbled boards, spines gilt-lettered, marbled endpapers.



Scattered light foxing, neat repair to upper margin of plate 118. Spines faded  to brown, edges rubbed.

Nissen 2338; Stafleau & Cowan TL2 4376

Scattered light foxing, neat repair to upper margin of plate 118. Spines faded to brown, edges rubbed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A fine set of this rare and short-lived periodical, largely devoted to tropical species of trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Published in Ghent, then a center of horticultural research and innovation, this superb periodical shows a definite preference for the exotic: there are about 60 orchids pictured and described, with a similar number of bromeliads and many other plants suitable only for the greenhouse in northern Europe. The work was issued in parts, 24 per volume, on the first and fifteenth of each month between 1 July 1850 and 31 May 1854. There is some confusion about the required number of plates, caused by the double-numbering of all but one of the colored folding plates and the inclusion of two of the three uncolored folding plates in the numeration. The numbering runs from 1 to 430, but this includes 25 folding plates with double numbers (56–57, 73–74, etc.) and two uncolored folding plates (249 and 250). Nissen calls for 430 plates and Stefleu and Cowan do not record a number of the folding double-numbered plates (105–6, 130–131 and 275–276).