Curtis | The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed, 1790–1788–1805, 20 volumes

CURTIS, WILLIAM

The Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Displayed. London: Printed by Couchman and Fry for W. Curtis, 1790–1788–1805

20 volumes, 8vo (255 x 152mm.), letterpress titles and indices, including the general index to volumes 1–10 and 11–20 bound in volumes 10 and 20, respectively, "Catalogue of Seeds" bound at end of volume 13, engraved portrait of William Curtis in volume 20, 786 engraved plates, comprising 785 hand-coloured plates, 3 folding, and one uncoloured plate (numbered 1–126, 128, 127, 129–144, 139–141, 145–204, 207–205, 208–786), uncut, contemporary half calf with marbled-paper–covered boards, spines gilt in six compartments, brown morocco labels in the second, some light offsetting, occasional marginal soiling or spotting, approximately 40 plates lightly toned, portrait of Curtis foxed, extremities rubbed with occasional minor losses, some hinges cracked but holding, sold as a periodical not subject to return

A FINELY ILLUSTRATED BOTANICAL PERIODICAL. An early run of the greatest horticultural journal in history and "the oldest current scientific periodical of its kind with coloured illustrations in the world... in the beauty of production and high standard of its contributions it can claim a unique place" (P. Synge, Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, 73 (1948), 5-6). It forms a remarkable record of the introduction of new plants, particularly exotics. 

In his preface to volume 1 Curtis states: ''The present periodical publication owes its commencement to the repeated solicitations of several ladies and gentlemen... who were frequently lamenting the want of a work, which might enable them, not only to acquire a systematic knowledge of the foreign plants growing in their gardens, but which might at the same time afford them the best information respecting their culture, in fact, a work in which botany and gardening... or the labour of Linnaeus and Miller, might happily be combined."

LITERATURE:

A Cleveland Herbal 577; De Belder sale 88; Great Flower Books, pp.156–157; Henrey 472; Hunt 689; Nissen BBI 2350; Plesch sale 164; Stafleu TL2 1290