Flore des serres et des jardins de l'Europe, ou Descriptions et figures des plantes les plus rares et les plus méritantes [...].

9 (of 23) vol., 8vo (n.c.).

Contemp. half sheep, marbled paper on covers, flat gilt orn. spines, marbled edges (corners sl. bumped, spines faded).

One of the finest horticulture journals of the mid-19th c. Illustrated with +/- 820 lithographic plates (some folding) expertly hand-finished in rich and luminous colours (gum heightened) protected with tissue guards. Some full-page b/w plates showing a.o. portraits of Van Houtte. The illustrations of the "Flore de serres" depict flowers and plants for sale in the Van Houtte nursery. Piece by piece examples of the ultimate craftmanship of the Belgian lithographers at the time. Besides trees, plants and flowers, both terrestrial and aquatic, the illustrations also depict aquaria, greenhouses, gardens, fountains, journeys, animals, garden tools, etc.
Ref. Pritzel 10738* (mentions 17 vol. from 1845 till 1870). - Nissen (BBI) 2254. - Stafleu & Cowan VI:15.921.