Details
EDWARDS, John. A Collection of Flowers drawn after Nature, and disposed in an ornamental and picturesque manner. [London: 1797].
Large 2° (460 x 340mm.). Etched title (cropped to border and mounted with manuscript caption 'John Edwards. Invt. delt et sculpt. Published as the Act directs Jany. 6 1797', spotted), 79 ETCHED PLATES, ALL COLOURED BY HAND within simple coloured border or ovals of bodycolour. (Some soiling, final plate with tears in upper outer corner repaired.) Modern half calf, green morocco lettering piece on upper cover, spine with gilt ornaments.
A rare work, with plates variously dated between 1783 and 1795. Most are numbered, but numeration is sometimes obscured by the bodycolour borders. Great Flower Books p.56 claims the title acts as plate 1 with 79 plates, whereas Dunthorne 105 calls for 77 plates; the latter copy has 1801 as a manuscript date of publication, and is described as 'A superb and extremely rare work by a great artist, whose craftsmanship is equal to the best of the 18th Century. The colouring is particularly fine owing to the use of pale printer's ink which does not interfere with the delicacy of the colouring'. Nissen 579.
Large 2° (460 x 340mm.). Etched title (cropped to border and mounted with manuscript caption 'John Edwards. Invt. delt et sculpt. Published as the Act directs Jany. 6 1797', spotted), 79 ETCHED PLATES, ALL COLOURED BY HAND within simple coloured border or ovals of bodycolour. (Some soiling, final plate with tears in upper outer corner repaired.) Modern half calf, green morocco lettering piece on upper cover, spine with gilt ornaments.
A rare work, with plates variously dated between 1783 and 1795. Most are numbered, but numeration is sometimes obscured by the bodycolour borders. Great Flower Books p.56 claims the title acts as plate 1 with 79 plates, whereas Dunthorne 105 calls for 77 plates; the latter copy has 1801 as a manuscript date of publication, and is described as 'A superb and extremely rare work by a great artist, whose craftsmanship is equal to the best of the 18th Century. The colouring is particularly fine owing to the use of pale printer's ink which does not interfere with the delicacy of the colouring'. Nissen 579.