Les roses.

2 vol., 8vo: [4]-4-[200] pp.; 80 pl., [180] pp.; 80 pl. (min. spotting and browning only locally touching the engravings).

Contemp. half dark blue calf, marbled paper on covers with gilt fillet, gilt-orn. flat spines, marbled endpapers.

Rare, first octavo edition published of the superb coloured plates which made the artist Redouté famous. Reducing the format of the work did not imply a compromise on quality. The text was much revised and gives much more information about the culture of the rose than the first edition. Complete with the 160 stipple-engraved plates printed in colour and finished by hand by Chardin, Langlois, Lemaire, etc. Originally published in 40 instalments of 4 plates, here protected with tissue guards, and accompanied with an explanatory leaflet. The work describes and represents many varieties of roses known at the time, some dedicated to personalities such as: "la duchesse d'Orléans" or "rosier Redouté", etc. Redouté worked his whole career in France, first in the Jardin du Roi and later in the National Museum of Natural History in Paris where he was responsible for cataloguing the collections of flora and fauna and participating in botanical expeditions.
Ref. Nissen (BBI) 1599. - Stafleu & Cowan 8749.