Lot 2: Franz Andreas Bauer (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 (one plate watermarked 1794)]. Part I only (615 x 387mm. and smaller). 5 hand-coloured engraved and etched plates only (of 10) by Mackenzie after Bauer. (Text lacking, occasional slight soiling of margins, some neat repairs to blank margins, plate 9 with a neatly repaired horizontal tear [80mm] running from right margin into plate area, but not affecting the image.) Unbound but presented in modern card window-mounts. A collection of fine engravings from the 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 (with ten plates) to 80 copies, and part three (with ten plates) 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. The plates all include the publication line 'Franc. Bauer del. Mackenzie sculp. Published by G. Nicol Jany.1.1793'. The titles are as follows: 1. Erica fascicularis (595 x 482mm., numbered '6') 2. Erica mucosa (595 x 483mm., unnumbered) 3. Erica sexfaria (605 x 482mm., unnumbered, small repaired marginal tears) 4. Erica Plukenetiana (615 x 482mm., numbered '9', 80mm. tear from right margin into plate area) 5. Erica Sebana (615 x 487mm., numbered '10', small neat marginal repairs). Cf.Dunthorne 28; cf. Great Flower Books p.49; cf.Henrey II, pp.253-254; cf.Hunt 747; cf.Nissen BBI 97; cf.Stafleu & Cowan 363. (5).