Six Georgian Hand-coloured Copper-Plate Engravings from William Curtis‘ Botanical Magazine, 1801-2

Six very early plates from this famous work, drawn by Sydenham Edwards (c.1768-1819), and published by William Curtis, St George Crescent. Fine original hand-coloured copper engravings, accurately drawn with vibrant colours. In very good, bright condition with description page on the back.

No. 539 Ixia Conica, Orange coloured Ixia, Nov 1801
No. 548 Ixia Bicolor, Ringent Ixia, Jan 1802
No. 509 Gladiolus Watsonius, Dwarf Watson’s Corn-flag, July 1802
No. 522 Ixia Patens, Spreading Flowered or Crimson Ixia, July 1802
No. 581 Tritonia Squalida, Sweet-scented Tritonia, Sept 1802
No. 594 Ixia Crateroides, Crimson Ixia, Oct 1802

William Curtis (1746-1799) was a trained apothecary living in London, although his passion was for natural history, particularly plants and insects. He maintained a large well-stocked garden and began the publication of the Botanical Magazine in February 1787, which has gone on to become the most famous and influential botanical publication of its type; it is still published today, making it the longest running scientific periodical of all time. Curtis edited the first 13 volumes, and was then succeeded by John Simms (1800-1826)