Beschreibung:

CURTIS, William (1746-1799). Flora Londinensis: or plates and descriptions of such plants as grow wild in the environs of London. London: for the author, [1775-] 1777 [-1788]. 5 fascicules (only, of 6) in 3 volumes, 2° (484 x 284mm). Title to volume I with engraved vignette, preface, lists of subscribers, 360 HAND-COLOURED ENGRAVED PLATES (only, of 432), by and after Sydenham Edwards, William Kilburn James Sowerby and others. (Lacking all of fascicule 6, titles to all parts execpt vol. I, dedication, indices to facsicules 1-3, one or two plates with very slight spotting or offsetting.) 19th-century green half morocco over marbled boards (spines faded, joints rubbed). FIRST EDITION of this impressive record of English flora, with the first issue of the title-page of vol. I (giving the author's Gracechurch Street address). The present copy contains the Catalogue of certain plants, growing wild, chiefly in the environs of Settle, in Yorkshire , 1782, as well as the general index and indices to fascicules 4 and 5: the indices to parts 1-3 have, as in many copies, been discarded at the time of binding. The first five fascicules of the work were published, with the support of Lord Bute, over 12 years. Wilfrid Blunt notes that "by 1787, the results of [Curtis's] labours were two splendid folio volumes and a deficit which made the continuance of his venture impossible" ( The Art of Botanical Illustration , Woodbridge: 1994, p. 212). At this point, in 1787, there followed a gap of at least three years, during which time Curtis launched the Botanical Magazine to raise funds, before the Flora Londiniensis could resume publication. It was perhaps during this period that the subscriber of the present copy, like several of his fellows, lost interest and allowed his subscription to lapse. Hunt II, 650; Henrey III, 595; Nissen BBI 439; Stafleu & Cowan 1286; Dunthorne 87 (the last two both require a total of 434 plates). Sold not subject to return. (3)