Beschreibung:

COGNIAUX, Célestin Alfred (1841-1916) and Alfred GOOSSENS (1866-1944, artist). Dictionnaire iconographique des orchidées . Brussels: 1896-1907. 16 volumes, oblong 8° (142 x 185mm). 737 (of c.824) chromolithographic plates by J.I. Goffart et al. after Goossens, some double-page, a few with cancellans caption-slips pasted on, line illustrations. With index leaves printed on pink and blue paper for nos. 16-36; 38-46; 48-53; 55-64. (Scattered spotting and browning and occasional dampmarking, causing some slight losses, occasional worming, lacking some text leaves.) Loose as issued, one volume in original gilt maroon cloth portfolio, the remainder in modern gilt leatherette portfolios with ribbon ties in the style of the original (original portfolio a little worn). C.A. COGNIAUX and A. GOOSENS (editors). Chronique orchidéenne. Supplément mensuel au Dictionnaire iconographique des orchidées . Brussels: January 1897-January 1907, comprising: volume I, nos 1-6, 8-28, 30-33, 35-51, volume II, nos 2-4, and 6-10 bound in one volume. 4° (165 x 126mm). (Some variable browning, spotting and staining.) 20th-century imitation morocco-backed boards, wrappers for vol. I nos. 6 (upper only), 15, 39-40, 50, and vol. II nos 2 and 8 bound in. LIMITED TO 250 COPIES, ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL THE MAJOR WORKS ON ORCHIDS with plates by one of the greatest of all orchid artists. The work is made up from sections on each genus, headed by a title and 2pp. of general description of the genus giving an historical note about the variety and ending with an acknowledgment of the origin of the particular flower depicted in each plate. The larger genera are each alloted their own volume: Cattleya ; Cymbidium ; Cypripedium ; Dendrobium ; Epidendrum ; Laelia ; Laelio-Cattleya ; Lycaste ; Masdevallia ; Miltonia ; Odontoglossum ; Oncidium ; Phalaenopsis ; Vanda . The remaining genera are collected under the title of Genres sans farde . A large number of varieties had been discovered in the previous 70 years, and the mechanics of the breeding of orchids had been established to a degree that allowed for the production of a new flush of captive-bred cross-breed varieties. Belgium was at the centre of the world-wide trade in orchid varieties and Cogniaux was therefore ideally placed to record this proliferation of varieties. Sold not subject to return. BM(NH) I, p.362; Nissen BBI III ( Supplement ), p.71, 2236n. (17)