Lot 25: Verschaffelt, Ambroise. , Nouvelle iconographie des camellias. Gand: Verschaffelt, 1852-1859

first edition , volumes 1–8 only (of 13) bound in 4, 8vo (250 x 160mm.), 384 chromolithographed plates by and after Stroobant, heightened with gum arabic, contemporary red roan-backed cloth, spines lettered gilt, one or two plates browned, some hinges and joints broken

Nissen BBI 2056; Stafleu TL2 16.057

GAND: VERSCHAFFELT, 1852-1859
Verschaffelt was part of a distinguished family of Belgian horticulturalists who introduced a great number of new camellia varieties. Many of these are shown in these volumes, which in part constitute a continuation of Berlèse's Iconographie du genre Camellia. Verschaffelt himself only edited the first volume of the series; the authorship of the text is uncertain, but it could have been C.A. Lemaire (see lot 13), who was an employee of the Verschaffelt firm.