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Details
ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (circa 1768-1837)
New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus . . . the Temple of Flora, or Garden of Nature. London: T. Bensley for the publisher, [1799-]1807[-1810, watermarked: 1794-1809]
2 volumes, broadsheet (Temple of Flora volume: 566 x 445mm.; New Illustration.. volume: 585 x 455mm). Temple with engraved dedication to the Queen, contents leaf and 34 PLATES COLOUR-PRINTED IN AQUATINT AND MEZZOTINT, FINISHED BY HAND (including A PROOF BEFORE-TITLE IMPRESSION OF THE TULIPS PLATE, and a formal portrait of Linnaeus); New Illustration. of flora with engraved section titles, 7 engraved tables, 116 uncoloured plates, most with aquatint or mezzotint, including 26 portraits, one of Linnaeus in Lapland dress. Light browning to Hyacinth plate, small tears to lower blank margins of two final text leaves, some spotting to outer blank margins of the second volume occasionally affecting image area of the plates, The Temple of Flora bound in contemporary half russia (neatly rebacked). Provenance: Louisa Catherine Cheek (presentation inscription from her father, dated 1825); Caroline Cheek (inscription, by Louisa, dated 1872); Sir Edmund Giles Loder, 2nd Bt. (1849-1920) contemporary red straight-grained morocco gilt, elaborately tooled in gilt and blind, g.e. (rebacked and cornered, later endpapers). Provenance: William Salmon (presentation inscription, dated 1859, to:); The Royal Institution (blind-stamp, gilt stamp at foot of spine); Sir Giles Rolls Loder, 3rd Bt. (armorial bookplate).
THE GREATEST ENGLISH BOTANICAL COLOUR-PLATE BOOK WITH MOST OF THE COLOUR PLATES IN FIRST OR EARLY STATES, AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL. The Tulips is in a proof state before the addition of the title and Earlom's name to the lower margin of the plate. In addition: it is a very fine impression with excellent hand-colouring and an early 1794 watermark. The colour plates include both of the Group of Auriculas plates, and both the American Bog Plants and the Pitcher Plants plates. Of the possible plates it is without only the Queen Flower and the American Aloe, both of which were late substitutes, and would not expected in earlier issues of the work. The Superb Lily is in Dunthorne's 'B' state, engraved by Earlom. The suite of uncoloured plates in the second volume are also remarkably complete.
The publication history of this great work is shrouded in confusion: the grandiose schemes of the author, his character and financial difficulties all ensured that the publication was a very stop-start sort of affair, with plates and text appearing irregularly and occasionally being withdrawn and replaced. His intention was that part I should be "A new illustration of the sexual system of Linnaeus", part II a collection of 26 portraits and 91 plates and part III the "Temple of Flora" with 31 coloured plates, however due to various additions and withdrawals during the publication period, have mean that a definative collation is not possible. The lot sold not subject to return.
Dunthorne 301 & 303; Great Flower Books p.77; Nissen BBI 1955; Stafleu & Cowan 14.283. (2)
New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus . . . the Temple of Flora, or Garden of Nature. London: T. Bensley for the publisher, [1799-]1807[-1810, watermarked: 1794-1809]
2 volumes, broadsheet (Temple of Flora volume: 566 x 445mm.; New Illustration.. volume: 585 x 455mm). Temple with engraved dedication to the Queen, contents leaf and 34 PLATES COLOUR-PRINTED IN AQUATINT AND MEZZOTINT, FINISHED BY HAND (including A PROOF BEFORE-TITLE IMPRESSION OF THE TULIPS PLATE, and a formal portrait of Linnaeus); New Illustration. of flora with engraved section titles, 7 engraved tables, 116 uncoloured plates, most with aquatint or mezzotint, including 26 portraits, one of Linnaeus in Lapland dress. Light browning to Hyacinth plate, small tears to lower blank margins of two final text leaves, some spotting to outer blank margins of the second volume occasionally affecting image area of the plates, The Temple of Flora bound in contemporary half russia (neatly rebacked). Provenance: Louisa Catherine Cheek (presentation inscription from her father, dated 1825); Caroline Cheek (inscription, by Louisa, dated 1872); Sir Edmund Giles Loder, 2nd Bt. (1849-1920) contemporary red straight-grained morocco gilt, elaborately tooled in gilt and blind, g.e. (rebacked and cornered, later endpapers). Provenance: William Salmon (presentation inscription, dated 1859, to:); The Royal Institution (blind-stamp, gilt stamp at foot of spine); Sir Giles Rolls Loder, 3rd Bt. (armorial bookplate).
THE GREATEST ENGLISH BOTANICAL COLOUR-PLATE BOOK WITH MOST OF THE COLOUR PLATES IN FIRST OR EARLY STATES, AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL. The Tulips is in a proof state before the addition of the title and Earlom's name to the lower margin of the plate. In addition: it is a very fine impression with excellent hand-colouring and an early 1794 watermark. The colour plates include both of the Group of Auriculas plates, and both the American Bog Plants and the Pitcher Plants plates. Of the possible plates it is without only the Queen Flower and the American Aloe, both of which were late substitutes, and would not expected in earlier issues of the work. The Superb Lily is in Dunthorne's 'B' state, engraved by Earlom. The suite of uncoloured plates in the second volume are also remarkably complete.
The publication history of this great work is shrouded in confusion: the grandiose schemes of the author, his character and financial difficulties all ensured that the publication was a very stop-start sort of affair, with plates and text appearing irregularly and occasionally being withdrawn and replaced. His intention was that part I should be "A new illustration of the sexual system of Linnaeus", part II a collection of 26 portraits and 91 plates and part III the "Temple of Flora" with 31 coloured plates, however due to various additions and withdrawals during the publication period, have mean that a definative collation is not possible. The lot sold not subject to return.
Dunthorne 301 & 303; Great Flower Books p.77; Nissen BBI 1955; Stafleu & Cowan 14.283. (2)