- 24
Redouté, Pierre-Joseph
Estimate
350,000 - 450,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
Les Liliacées. Text by Augustin-Pyramus de Candolle (Vols. I–IV), François Delaroche (Vols. V–VI), and Alire Raffeneau Delile (Vols VII–VIII). Paris: Chez l'Auteur ... De l'Imprimerie de Didot Jeune, 1802–1816
8 volumes, folio (20 1/2 x 13 1/2 in.; 521 x 343 mm). Half titles, titles, uncolored engraved portrait of Redouté by C. S. Pradier after Gérard, 485 stipple-engraved plates printed in color and finished by hand (except plate 372, the amaryllis bulb, uncolored as usual), plates numbered 1–486, with the folding plate of the Amaryllis Joséphine numbered 370/371, dedication to Chaptal in vol. 2, plate 95 (Tradescantia Virginica) in first state with caption titled Commelina erecta |Commeline droite, variant states of plates 427–428: plates 427 and 428 captioned Narcissus intermedius and Narcissus laetus respectively, both signed by Bessin, plate 429 misnumbered 428, the plates are arranged by plant family in alphabetical order; title-page lacking in vol. 2, half-title lacking in vol. 3, minor wormholes affecting bottom margin of 12 plates and text leaves repaired, light occasional dampstaining in vols. 5 and 7, repairs to a few short marginal tears on plates and accompanying text in vol. 8, light toning to about 90 plates. Contemporary mottled panelled gilt, the spine in 7 compartments richly gilt (2 reserved for red morocco lettering and numbering pieces, plain endpapers, edges sprinkled blue; boards of vol. 3 lightly scratched, a few nicks to spines.
8 volumes, folio (20 1/2 x 13 1/2 in.; 521 x 343 mm). Half titles, titles, uncolored engraved portrait of Redouté by C. S. Pradier after Gérard, 485 stipple-engraved plates printed in color and finished by hand (except plate 372, the amaryllis bulb, uncolored as usual), plates numbered 1–486, with the folding plate of the Amaryllis Joséphine numbered 370/371, dedication to Chaptal in vol. 2, plate 95 (Tradescantia Virginica) in first state with caption titled Commelina erecta |Commeline droite, variant states of plates 427–428: plates 427 and 428 captioned Narcissus intermedius and Narcissus laetus respectively, both signed by Bessin, plate 429 misnumbered 428, the plates are arranged by plant family in alphabetical order; title-page lacking in vol. 2, half-title lacking in vol. 3, minor wormholes affecting bottom margin of 12 plates and text leaves repaired, light occasional dampstaining in vols. 5 and 7, repairs to a few short marginal tears on plates and accompanying text in vol. 8, light toning to about 90 plates. Contemporary mottled panelled gilt, the spine in 7 compartments richly gilt (2 reserved for red morocco lettering and numbering pieces, plain endpapers, edges sprinkled blue; boards of vol. 3 lightly scratched, a few nicks to spines.
Literature
Dunthorne 231; Great Flower Books, p. 71; Hunt Redoutéana 10; Madol 36; Nissen BBI 1597; Pritzel 7353; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 8747
Catalogue Note
"Among the most important monuments of botanical illustration ever to be published" (Frans Stafleu, "Redouté—Peintre de fleurs" in A Catalogue of Redoutéana), Redouté's sumptuous Liliacées elevated him to the height of his artistic career and established him as one of the most eminent botanical illustrators of all time. The cost of this elaborate project was underwritten by his patron, Joséphine de Beauharnais.