Pl.59 “Madagascar Periwinkle, Laurustinus”

The talented English artist Sydenham Edwards began sketching plants from nature as a young boy. His drawings were so admired that he came to the attention of William Curtis who tutored Edwards and urged him to publish botanical works on his own.  Edward’s first publication was titled, A Complete Dictionary of Practical Gardening by Alexander McDonald Gardener. This work appeared in 1807, issued in two volumes and contained sixty one hand colored plates. Each plate is dated and describes the botanical specimen with both Latin and English names. Many of these lovely plates documented the new American varieties of plants and flowers.

11 1/4" x 9" sheet size.
Original hand colored engraving in excellent condition.