Curtis's botanical magazine, comprising the plants of the royal gardens of Kew, and of other botanical establishments in Great Britain [...].

184 parts in 164 vol., 8vo: 4131 engr., 5557 lith., 882 colour prints [= 10.570 pl](some offsetting and browning, min. spotting on text but not on plates, damp stains in vol. 87, 88, 90).

Vol 1-70: contemp. half calf, marbled paper on covers, gilt-titled flat spines (corners slightly bumped). Vol 71-164: publisher's brown cloth, title stamped in gilt or silver on flat spines (some spines discoloured).

The Botanical Magazine, started in 1787 by William Curtis, is the longest running botanical magazine, mostly referred to as "Curtis’s Botanical Magazine". The Magazine was immediately successful and the early volumes were soon re-issued, hence the later publication date of the first volumes of this lot. The Magazine is renowned for its plates by distinguished artists including Sydenham Edwards, James Sowerby, John Curtis, Mathilda Smith and Lillian Snelling. After a misunderstanding in 1815, Sydenham Edwards, one of the most important illustrators, left and started the rival Botanical Register. Not only are many of the plates beautiful in itself, the accompanying texts take the reader on a journey in the history of the botany. In vol. 1-70, the 4131 pl. are engraved on copper and hand-coloured, in vol. 71-164 (5557 pl.) lithography was employed and coloured by hand, in 1948 colour printing was introduced (vol. 165-184, 882 pl.), making a grand total of 10.570 coloured pl.
Ref. Nissen (BBI) 2350. - Great Flower Books, pp. 39-41. - Pritzel 2007. - Sotheby's Magnificent Botanical Books (1987) 88. - Stafleu & Cowan TL2 1290.
Prov. James Mast de Maeght (1943-2020), Belgian entomologist and botanist (mod. bookpl. in every three books, ms. entry in the other vol.). - James Eastace Radclyffe (1881-1965), British surgeon and medical writer (mod. bookpl. in vol. 127-161). - "Libr. stamps" in vol. 112, 124.