Twelve botanical studies including: Lychee, Litchi Chinensis (illustrated g); Gingko, Gingko Biloba (L.) (illustrated b); Longan, Euphoria Longana (illustrated i); Cotton Rose, Hibiscus Mutabilis (L.) (illustrated c); Cherokee Rose, Rosa Laevigata; Date Plum, Diospyros Lotus (L.) (illustrated j); Chinese Wild Peony, Melastoma Polyanthum (illustrated h); Wauke, Broussonetia Papyrifera (L.) (illustrated a); Cape Jasmine, Gardenia Jasminoides (illustrated d); Chinese Indigo, Polygonum Tinctorium; no common name (from the peach family), Persica Platycarpa (illustrated e); one unidentified plant (illustrated f)

The present watercolours belonged to George Hibbert, an eminent merchant, politician, slave and ship owner, book collector and amateur botanist. According to J.C.L. Loudon's 1835 Encyclopedia of Gardening: 'The collection of heaths, Banksias, and other Cape and Botany Bay plants, in Hibbert's garden, was most extensive, and his flower-garden was one of the best round the metropolis'. According to some contemporary reports it was larger than the garden at Kew. Hibbert had a close relationship with the famous botanist Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) and was able to use his shipping expertise and mercantile networks to assist Banks, and other botanists, with the international transportation of their plant collections.

Previously bound in a folio with a hand written list of the plants with their Chinese and English names, inscribed at the lower right edge of the sheet 'The above list was made in year 1778'.