No. 187 (Iris) The Botanical Magazine. London, 1792. $165.00

No. 187 Iris

William Curtis was an 18th century Englishman who devoted his life to the study of botanicals. The arrival of exotic botanical specimens in Europe    prompted a demand for detailed and accurate information concerning the new plants. The Botanical Magazine or Flower-Garden Display'd, later known as Curtis' Botanical Magazine,  was issued in a small format, in monthly installments. Each installment arrived wrapped in blue papers containing three hand-colored botanical illustrations with text. The first issue was published February 1787 and was a great success. It is considered to be the first horticultural magazine. It remainded so popular that it continued to be produced with hand colored plates up into the 1940s!

Hand colored copperplate engraving.
Excellent impression and color.
Narrow mat stain outside of plate mark.
9 1/4 x 5 3/8 inches, sheet.
8 x 4 1/2 inches, platemark.