Sweerts, Emanuel

First part with etched allegorical title-page depicting Flora, flanked by Apollo and Artemis, in the foreground of a garden and incorporating medallion portraits of Carolus Clusius and Rembert Dodoens, 12 leaves of unpaginated text, including a catalogue of the flowers depicted, in Latin, Dutch, German, and French, numerous woodcut initials and initial-frames and woodcut and type-ornament headpieces. Second part with letterpress title-page with woodcut printer's device, 4 leaves of unpaginated text, being a catalogue of the flowers depicted, in Latin, Dutch, German, and French, with blank E2. Illustration: Etched portrait of Sweerts, 110 engraved plates (numbered 1–67, 1–43).

2 parts in one volume, folio (16 1/8 x 9 3/4 in.; 394 x 248 mm). Binding: Near contemporary vellum over pasteboards, plain endpapers, red-sprinkled edges. Green cloth folding-case, green morocco spine label. Provenance: Charles P. Berolzheimer (Doyle, 3 November 1999, lot 258).



Some gradually diminishing wormholes running from front endpapers through plate 1.8 (those on the engraved title-page repaired), engraved title-page extended, portrait not wormed and supplied, early restoration to lower fore-edge corner of C3, some minor browning to text, plates 1.6 and 2.37 just shaved at fore-edge, a few others cut close, plates 1.53–62 and 2.17–26 dampstained, plate 1.4 with a tiny rust-hole, plate 2.30 with early repair to lower inside corner, scattered marginal foxing. Binding worn and soiled.

cf. Cleveland Collections 182 & 207; De Bedler sale 348; cf. Hunt 196; Nissen 1921; cf. An Oak Spring Flora 9; Pritzel 9073

Some gradually diminishing wormholes running from front endpapers through plate 1.8 (those on the engraved title-page repaired), engraved title-page extended, portrait not wormed and supplied, early restoration to lower fore-edge corner of C3, some minor browning to text, plates 1.6 and 2.37 just shaved at fore-edge, a few others cut close, plates 1.53–62 and 2.17–26 dampstained, plate 1.4 with a tiny rust-hole, plate 2.30 with early repair to lower inside corner, scattered marginal foxing. Binding worn and soiled.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

A good, unsophisticated copy of a mixed set of Jansson's series of mid-seventeenth–century editions of Sweerts's immensely popular work, which succeeded the 1612 Frankfurt first edition and its 1614 reprint in 1620, 1631, 1641, 1647, and 1655. "The first two editions were essentially catalogues for the selling of plants and bulbs, while the later editions were true florilegia intended for the connoisseur and the scientist" (An Oak Spring Flora). The Allen copy was well perused by an early German owner, who has added neat identifications or other annotations to many of the plates, as well as binding a five-leaf manuscript index at the end of the volume.

Sweerts divided his Florilegium into two parts: the first deals with bulbous species (including gladioli, hyacinth, iris, lilies, narcissi, daffodils, peonies, and, of course, tulips) and the second with species having "fibrous" roots (hellebores, canna, lily of the valley, chrysanthemums, and many others), as well as a number of fragrant trees such as myrtle, arbor vitae, and juniper. Altogether over 560 flowering bulbs, shrubs, trees, fruits, and vegetables are depicted, generally grouped by species.