Hooker, Joseph Dalton.

first edition, 2 parts in one volume, folio (492 x 365mm.), hand-coloured lithographed frontispiece, lithographed title vignette, list of subscribers, 30 hand-coloured lithographed plates by Fitch after Hooker, contemporary maroon morocco gilt, some spotting, a few marginal tears, binding rubbed

Great Flower Books, p.60; Nissen BBI 911; Stafleu TL2 2969

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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Hooker's plant-hunting trip to the Himalayas was not without incident. This culminated in arrest by the Sikkim authorites after he made an incursion into Tibet against their wishes. His incarceration sparked a diplomatic incident during which the British threatened to invade.

"Altogether Hooker collected about 7000 species in India and Nepal and on his return to England managed to secure another government grant while he classified and named them. The first publication was the Rhododendrons of the Sikkim-Himalaya (1849–51), edited by his father and illustrated by Walter Hood Fitch, whose fine drawings enriched many of both the Hookers' publications. Hooker's and Campbell's travels added twenty-five new rhododendrons to the fifty already known and the spectacular new species they introduced into Britain helped create a rhododendron craze among British gardeners. Hooker's journey also produced his Himalayan Journals (1854), which were dedicated to Darwin" (ODNB).