Lawrance, Mary.

First edition, folio (390 x 300mm.), hand-coloured etched and stipple-engraved frontispiece, engraved title and dedication, 90 hand-coloured etched and stipple-engraved plates of roses, 4 partly or entirely captioned in the author's hand, 2 leaves of letterpress at end, burgundy morocco gilt by Zaehnsdorf, triple gilt fillet borders on covers, spine tooled gilt with rose motifs in 6 compartments, lettered in two, gilt edges, [Dunthorne 176; Great Flower Books, p.64; Henrey 3:948; Nissen BBI 1151; An Oak Spring Flora 78; not in Hunt]

Frederick, 2nd Lord Hesketh, bookplate

The watermarks are dated 1794
"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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The first book devoted to roses. Lawrance (fl. 1794-1830), was a noted flower-painter and teacher of painting, who exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1795, and this work represents a breakthrough in the depiction of the rose in all its complexity, perfected in the following century by Redouté. The pioneering nature of the work means that there are inevitable infelicities in some of the plates, but as Lucia Tongiorgi Tomasi notes "it cannot have been a simple task to present this flower for the first time in these ninety folio plates". She goes on to note that the frontispiece, a garland of roses, "can certainly be counted among the most charming in botanical illustration" (An Oak Spring Flora, p.300).

The work was published in thirty parts, beginning in 1796.