Details
FITZGERALD, Robert Desmond (1830-1892). Australian Orchids. Sydney: Thomas Richards, 1875-1894.
12 parts in 2 volumes, 2° (488 x 316mm). Title, dedication, synopses and introduction to volume I, with author's note on ordering and nomenclanture of species bound in, half-title to each part in volume I, 118 HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, 10 double-page, almost all printed on thick tinted paper, and 1 uncoloured lithographic plate, by A. J. Stopps and the author after the author. (Three plates in vol. II, part 2 reinforced at margins, several text leaves in II.2-3 strengthened at margins, slight crease to double-page plate in II.2, last plate in II.1 with lower outer corner neatly repaired, not affecting image or caption, occasional marginal dust-soiling to plates, one or two text leaves with light marginal dampstains.) Volume I bound in contemporary half red morocco over marbled boards, spine gilt in six compartments, lettered in two, t.e.g. (extremities lightly rubbed); volume II in modern black half morocco, spine in eight compartments, lettered in two; each part to vol. I with front cover of original printed coloured wrapper bound in, I:2 with duplicate front cover and I:6 with back cover; each part to vol. II with original wrappers bound in (minor repairs to corners and margins, more serious to II.2, back cover to II.4 laid down).
FIRST EDITION of one of the earliest studies of Australian orchids. Fitzgerald was a deputy surveyor-general in New South Wales, and a botanical artist, who came to Sydney from Ireland in 1856. His drawings and studies came to the attention of the government of New South Wales, who undertook publication of the work at the Government Printer's. The lithographer Arthur J. Stopps was an employee of the Lands Department. When Fitzgerald died in 1892, the government paid for the continued publication of the work, with Stopps completing the lithography from Fitzgerald's drawings, and the descriptive text supplied by Henry Deane, a botanist and engineer-in-chief of railways in the region, from Fitzgerald's notes and his own botanical observations. According to Stafleu, "Complete copies of the book are now very rare". Stafleu & Cowan 1799; Nissen BBI 633; Great Flower Books p. 56. (2)
12 parts in 2 volumes, 2° (488 x 316mm). Title, dedication, synopses and introduction to volume I, with author's note on ordering and nomenclanture of species bound in, half-title to each part in volume I, 118 HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, 10 double-page, almost all printed on thick tinted paper, and 1 uncoloured lithographic plate, by A. J. Stopps and the author after the author. (Three plates in vol. II, part 2 reinforced at margins, several text leaves in II.2-3 strengthened at margins, slight crease to double-page plate in II.2, last plate in II.1 with lower outer corner neatly repaired, not affecting image or caption, occasional marginal dust-soiling to plates, one or two text leaves with light marginal dampstains.) Volume I bound in contemporary half red morocco over marbled boards, spine gilt in six compartments, lettered in two, t.e.g. (extremities lightly rubbed); volume II in modern black half morocco, spine in eight compartments, lettered in two; each part to vol. I with front cover of original printed coloured wrapper bound in, I:2 with duplicate front cover and I:6 with back cover; each part to vol. II with original wrappers bound in (minor repairs to corners and margins, more serious to II.2, back cover to II.4 laid down).
FIRST EDITION of one of the earliest studies of Australian orchids. Fitzgerald was a deputy surveyor-general in New South Wales, and a botanical artist, who came to Sydney from Ireland in 1856. His drawings and studies came to the attention of the government of New South Wales, who undertook publication of the work at the Government Printer's. The lithographer Arthur J. Stopps was an employee of the Lands Department. When Fitzgerald died in 1892, the government paid for the continued publication of the work, with Stopps completing the lithography from Fitzgerald's drawings, and the descriptive text supplied by Henry Deane, a botanist and engineer-in-chief of railways in the region, from Fitzgerald's notes and his own botanical observations. According to Stafleu, "Complete copies of the book are now very rare". Stafleu & Cowan 1799; Nissen BBI 633; Great Flower Books p. 56. (2)