Curtis, William

2-page subscribers list, engraved oval title vignette to vol. 1. Illustration: 435 handcolored engraved plates, after Sydenham Edwards, James Sowerby, and William Kilburn. 

2 volumes, folio (18 3/4 x 11 1/2 in.; 475 x 290 mm). Binding: Fine retrospective russia, covers with gilt floral tooling, spine gilt with morocco labels, marbled edges. 



Occasional offsetting, some marginal dampstaining to both volumes, especially the last 45 plates of vol. 1, approximately 30 plates somewhat toned, 15 with light foxing, small neat repair to the plate-mark of the plate 42 (vol. 1), text leaf to plate 148 (vol. 2) with early lamination on verso, and resulting light spotting to text and plate.

De Belder sale 86; Dunthorne 87; Great Flower Books, p. 88; Henrey 595; Hunt 650; Nissen 439; Plesch sale 161; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 1286

Occasional offsetting, some marginal dampstaining to both volumes, especially the last 45 plates of vol. 1, approximately 30 plates somewhat toned, 15 with light foxing, small neat repair to the plate-mark of the plate 42 (vol. 1), text leaf to plate 148 (vol. 2) with early lamination on verso, and resulting light spotting to text and plate.
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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.

First edition of the first, and most sought after of the English flora. "A splendid work" (Sitwell). Curtis's work is considered to be one of the greatest works on wildflowers of the London region. It took Curtis over 10 years to complete. "Curtis adopted the novel plan of having specimens drawn to a uniform scale and to life size, and most of the plates display a high degree of accuracy. In the opinion of [Sir J. E.] Salisbury, the majority of the figures 'represent the most successful portrayals of British wild flowers that have ever been achieved'" (Henrey II, 67).

A large copy with fine wide margins to both plates and text, with the second issue title giving the author's address as "at his Botanic Garden, Lambeth Marsh." Curtis, with the support of Lord Bute, published the first part in 1775. For "ten years he continued ... at his congenial but unremunerative task, [and] by 1787, the results of his labour were two splendid folio volumes and a deficit that made the continuance of his venture impossible. He understood the cause of the trouble, and saw the remedy: if his clients refused to buy folio pictures of the unassuming plants that grew by the wayside, he would win their patronage with octavo engravings of the bright flowers that filled there gardens. Thus, in 1787, The Botanical Magazine was born" (Blunt, p. 212).

The success of the magazine (see lots 11 and 12) allowed Curtis to continue the publication of the Flora, the former, as Curtis put it, providing the "pudding," the latter the greater satisfaction and the critical acclaim from his peers. The majority of the illustrations in the first volume are by William Kilburn with the rest of the plates divided between James Sowerby and Sydenham Edwards. The present copy includes the "Catalogue of certain plants, growing wild in the environs of Settle" (here bound in the second volume) but lacking the indices to the individual fascicles which have been discarded by the binder, as usual.