Sydenham Edwards | The new flora Britannica, 1812, 2 volumes in 1, contemporary straight-grained red morocco

Sydenham Edwards

The new flora Britannica, illustrated with one hundred and thirty-three plants. London: John Stockdale, 1812

2 volumes in one, 4to (288 x 234mm.), continuous pagination, 61 hand-coloured engraved plates by S. Sansom after Sydenham Edwards, numbered 1-60 (and 19), contemporary straight-grained red morocco, spine gilt in five compartments, edges gilt, brown endpapers, light scattered spotting and light transfer from plates onto facing text leaves, plate 41 and pages 347-349 with small ink stain to upper margin (not affecting illustration), extremities slightly rubbed with marks to lower board, lower joint starting to split at head of spine

Exceptional collection of coloured botanical plates by the prolific natural history illustrator Sydenham Edwards, who also produced the Cynographia Britannica. According to Dunthorne, ''the plates are well coloured and many American flowers are included''.

This copy was previously in the collection of Major Albert Samuel Pam (1875-1955), senior partner of Schroders, treasurer of the Zoological Society, author, and amaryllidaceae expert after whom the Pamianthe was named. 

LITERATURE:

Dunthorne 107; Great Flower Books, p. 56; Nissen BBI 480

PROVENANCE:

J. Hickey: ownership inscription on title-page, dated 1821; Major Albert Pam, bookplate to front pastedown