Lot 86: BAUER, Franz Andreas (1758-1840). Delineations of Exotick Plants cultivated in the Royal Garden at Kew ... published by W.T. Aiton . London: W. Bulmer & Co. for George Nicol, 1796[-1797] (text watermarked 1794; some plates dated 1794).

BAUER, Franz Andreas (1758-1840). Delineations of Exotick Plants cultivated in the Royal Garden at Kew ... published by W.T. Aiton. London: W. Bulmer & Co. for George Nicol, 1796[-1797] (text watermarked 1794; some plates dated 1794).

Parts 1-2 only (of 3), broadsheets (610 x 480mm). 20 hand-coloured engraved and etched plates by Mackenzie after Bauer. (Occasional light soiling and some neat repairs to blank margins, plate 19 with a neatly repaired 110mm. horizontal tear running from inner margin into plate area but not affecting the image.) Original blue-grey paper over limp pasteboard, letterpress label on each cover, uncut (neatly rebacked, edges to covers fractionally chipped in places, some restoration at extremities).

FIRST EDITION OF WHAT IS 'WITHOUT DOUBT ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED FLOWER BOOKS' (Hunt) by one of the greatest botanical artists. Part one was limited to 90 copies (10 of which were spoiled); part two to 80 copies. Part three (not present) was issued in 1803 in an edition of 50 copies. The plates are all representations of Ericas collected in South Africa by Francis Masson for Kew and are so accurate that it was felt unneccessary to issue any explanatory text, as Sir Joseph Banks explains in his preface. Dunthorne 28; Great Flower Books (1990) p.73; Henrey II, pp.253-254; Hunt 747; Nissen BBI 97; Stafleu & Cowan 363. (2)

ATLASES AND PLATE BOOKS