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SIR JOHN HILL (1716?-1775)
Exotic Botany illustrated, in thirty-five plates: explaining the sexual system; and tending to give some new lights into the vegetable pholosophy. London: printed at the expense of the Author, 1759. 2 (471 x 290mm). 2pp. letterpress dedication to the Earl of Northumberland. 35 hand-coloured engraved plates, each plate with facing blank protective leaf. (Light browning to outer margins of plates 5 and 6.) Contemporary morocco gilt, spine in eight compartments with raised bands, dark blue morocco lettering piece in the second, the lowest with centrally-placed armorial crest, the others with repeat decoration centred on a vase of flowers (extremities slightly scuffed, small split to upper joint, some discolouration to covers). Provenance: unidentified armorial crest (out of a ducal coronet, an eagle's head, between two wings expanded, binding); Albert Pain (bookplate).
A VERY FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF HILL'S MOST BEAUTIFUL WORK. The highly decorative plates are coloured using water-colour and body-colour heightened with white. As the title indicates, many of the plants were of foreign origin, 18 from China, 4 from the Americas, 3 from Africa and the rest from Europe. Hill gives a fascinating insight into the methods employed by botanical artists in the 18th-century when he writes in the introduction that "Most of the plants came over dried, as specimens; and they were brought to the state wherein they are represented in these designs, by maceration in warm water. The method was this. the plant was laid in a china dish, and water was poured upon it, nearly as much as the cavity would hold; another dish, somewhat smaller, was turn'd down upon this, and the edges were cemented with common paste spread upon brown paper. This was set upon a pot half full of cold water, and placed over a gentle fire. Thus after a little time the lower dish heats; and the water gradually in it: a few minutes then complete the business. The plant, however, rumpled up in drying, expands and takes the natural form it had when fresh. Even the minutest parts appear distinctly. The specimen is destroyed by this operation, but it shews itself, for the time, in full perfection: I could have wished to save some of these, but they were sacrificed to the the work; and I hope their remembrance will live in the designs." Great Flower Books (1990), p.100; Henrey III, 806; Nissen BBI 879; Stafleu & Cowan 2271.
Exotic Botany illustrated, in thirty-five plates: explaining the sexual system; and tending to give some new lights into the vegetable pholosophy. London: printed at the expense of the Author, 1759. 2 (471 x 290mm). 2pp. letterpress dedication to the Earl of Northumberland. 35 hand-coloured engraved plates, each plate with facing blank protective leaf. (Light browning to outer margins of plates 5 and 6.) Contemporary morocco gilt, spine in eight compartments with raised bands, dark blue morocco lettering piece in the second, the lowest with centrally-placed armorial crest, the others with repeat decoration centred on a vase of flowers (extremities slightly scuffed, small split to upper joint, some discolouration to covers). Provenance: unidentified armorial crest (out of a ducal coronet, an eagle's head, between two wings expanded, binding); Albert Pain (bookplate).
A VERY FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF HILL'S MOST BEAUTIFUL WORK. The highly decorative plates are coloured using water-colour and body-colour heightened with white. As the title indicates, many of the plants were of foreign origin, 18 from China, 4 from the Americas, 3 from Africa and the rest from Europe. Hill gives a fascinating insight into the methods employed by botanical artists in the 18th-century when he writes in the introduction that "Most of the plants came over dried, as specimens; and they were brought to the state wherein they are represented in these designs, by maceration in warm water. The method was this. the plant was laid in a china dish, and water was poured upon it, nearly as much as the cavity would hold; another dish, somewhat smaller, was turn'd down upon this, and the edges were cemented with common paste spread upon brown paper. This was set upon a pot half full of cold water, and placed over a gentle fire. Thus after a little time the lower dish heats; and the water gradually in it: a few minutes then complete the business. The plant, however, rumpled up in drying, expands and takes the natural form it had when fresh. Even the minutest parts appear distinctly. The specimen is destroyed by this operation, but it shews itself, for the time, in full perfection: I could have wished to save some of these, but they were sacrificed to the the work; and I hope their remembrance will live in the designs." Great Flower Books (1990), p.100; Henrey III, 806; Nissen BBI 879; Stafleu & Cowan 2271.