[Bradbury, Henry.

Folio (544 x 356mm.), 30 nature printed plates (see note below), printed in colours, contemporary half calf, the upper cover lettered in gilt "Newly-Invented Process of Nature Printing", binding rubbed, without title

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.
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."

Extremely rare and fine examples of the first nature printed plates made in Britain.

"It seems to have been considered by its originators in the nature of an advertisement rather than a book... Presumably this is because it consists simply of illustrations and no text. The fact that the plates were available separately suggests that they were envisaged as curiosities. It is an interesting book, however, and as things turned out the only one in which flowering plants were reproduced. It is also the only example in which the plate marks can be seen, all the other books having been printed with plates larger than the size of the resulting book" (Geoffrey Wakeman, "Henry Bradbury's Nature Printed Books", The Library, 21 (1966), p.63).

The original printed wrappers (not present in our copy) gave a list of thirty-three plates and indicated that the plates could be acquired singly (1s 6d each) or in a groups of twenty-one (21s). While the present copy has thirty plates, two of them (Hairy rock cress and Common primrose) are not included in the printed list of thirty-three, indicating that perhaps more than this number were printed.

We have traced only one other copy at auction (described then as "possibly unique"), with a variant title on printed wrappers, but containing twenty-one plates. Institutional copies in the United Kingdom are found in the British Library, the Bodleian, Cambridge and the Royal Institution.