Lindenia. Iconographie des orchidées.

6 vol., folio: 288 pl. (some mild toning, some sl. spotting, edges sl. frayed).

Modern half morocco with gilt borders by Invicta Livro, marbled paper on covers, gilt orn. spines with 4 raised bands.

First 6 volumes (of 17) of this important work on orchids by the Belgian botanist Jean Jules Linden (1817-1898). Ill. with 288 full-page chromolithographic plates with tissue guards by P. de Pannemaeker, each followed by a detailed 2-page description of the species. Between 1835 and 1844 J.J. Linden made extensive trips as a botanical explorer to South and Central America. Afterwards he worked as a plant dealer in Luxembourg from 1845 to 1852 and became director of the Jardin Royal de Zoologie et d'Horticulture in Brussels from 1852 to 1861. He continued his activities as a dealer, introducing new plants (particularly orchids) in Brussels and Ghent. His son Lucien Linden (1853-1940) succeeded him as director of the company in 1876. The publication ran until 1901 and seventeen volumes in total were published with 801 illustrations. This set includes a menu of the festive lunch, organised by "L'Orchidéenne, Société d'Amateurs d'Orchidées", and ill. by J.L. Goffart on the occasion of their 50th meeting.
Ref. Nissen (BBI) 2348. - L'orchidée en Belgique 3. - Great Flower Books 160. - Stafleu & Cowan 4628.