Waldstein and Kitaibel | Descriptiones et icones plantarum rariorum, Vienna, [1799-] 1802-12, contemporary half-morocco

Franz de Paula Adam, Graf von Waldstein and Paul Kitaibel

Descriptiones et icones plantarum rariorum Hungariae. Vienna: Matthias Andreas Schmidt, [1799-] 1802-1812

FIRST EDITION, 3 volumes, folio (488 x 345mm.), large sepia watercolour view at beginning of preface to volume one, 280 finely hand-coloured engraved plates (of which 16 folding), contemporary green boards, red morocco labels to spine, leaves uncut, repairs to head and foot of spine

A NEAR FINE COPY. This rare Hungarian flora is a typical product of the golden age of Viennese botany which centered on Jacquin, whose style it exemplifies. The text is by Kitaibel, and Waldstein provided the financial backing. However, the publication was suspended due to the Napoleonic wars, and did not run to its planned 4 volumes.

LITERATURE:

Dunthorne 325; Great Flower Books, p.80; Nissen BBI 2096; Stafleu TL2 16.560 

PROVENANCE:

"The Horticultural Society of New York, bequest of Kenneth K. Mackenzie, October 1934", armorial bookplates; "duplicata de la bibliothèque du conservatoire botanique de Genève vendu en 1922", library stamps on title-pages of 2 volumes