Margaret Meen | Exotic plates from the Royal Gardens at Kew, 1790

Margaret Meen

[Exotic plates from the Royal Gardens at Kew]. London, 1790-1793

FIRST EDITION, large folio (580 x 465mm.), engraved dedication, 8 fine hand-coloured etched and aquatint plates, near contemporary half sheep, some spotting, one plate creased

One of the great rarities of illustrated botanical literature. Meen was a teacher of painting, especially flowers and insects, who showed her work at the Royal Academy.

According to Henrey, two parts of the work were issued comprising a total of eight plates and a dedication (to Queen Charlotte, one of her pupils). There were also issued two part titles, not present here, which explained that the work could be “had at Mrs. Darling’s, Great Newport Street”. A general title was never issued. Plates 1-4 have printed captions and signatures; plates 5-8 have manuscript captions and no signatures.

Henrey also notes: “According to Nissen… [the work]… appeared from 1790-3 in three numbers with nineteen copper plates. The present compiler has not been able to trace a copy corresponding to that mentioned by Dr. Nissen”. It would appear, therefore, that the present copy contains the full complement of plates.

LITERATURE:

Henrey 1089; Nissen BBI 1332

PROVENANCE:

Earl of Dartmouth, bookplate