Sibthorp, John, and Sir James Edward Smith.

first edition, volume 1 (fascicles 1 and 2) and volume 2 (fascicle 1 only), in the original 3 parts, folio (495 x 340mm.), 2 fine hand-coloured engraved additional titles with vignette (depicting Mount Parnassus and Mount Athos respectively), 150 hand-coloured plates, original boards with printed paper labels on upper covers, uncut, some plates lightly browned and with offsetting from text, spines rebacked in cloth, edges rubbed

Johannis Hus, bookplate; Ludwig Strecker, bookplate

not in Blackmer; Great Flower Books, p.76; Henry 1319; Nissen BBI 1840; Stafleu TL2 11.935; Stearn, W.T., Taxon, 16, pp.168-178

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"this book is one of the most impressive monuments of botanical illustration (ferdinand bauer), botanical exploration (sibthorp's perseverance nothwithstanding bad health) and taxonomic craftsmanship (j.e. smith)" (Stafleu). The work is at the same time one of the rarest and one of the most desirable of all the great floras.

In 1785 Sibthorp (1758-1796) visited Vienna in order to study the Codex Vindobonensis of Dioscorides. In Vienna he met the noted botanist and chemist Nicolaus Joseph Jacquin who introduced him to the young artist Ferdinand Bauer, who accompanied him on his monumental exploration of Greece. Sibthorp and Bauer amassed some 2000 specimens and drawings. He returned to England after a second trip to Greece in 1796, but the travel had exhausted his health and he died of tuberculosis aged 38. Sibthorp bequeathed his estate to the University of Oxford for the publication of the Flora Graeca and Smith was appointed to prepare the author's notes for publication. Due to the enormous cost of the work, only 30 subscribers were attracted and of these only 25 completed their subscription, each paying £254 for the complete work, which ran to 10 volumes. The London bookseller and publisher H.G. Bohn took over the remainder stock and plates sometime after 1840 and issued a further 40 sets. Apart from later watermarks on some of the plates that were re-struck, there is, according to Stearn, very little difference between the issues.

Watermarks: volume 1,  text: J. Whatman 1801 and 1805; plates: I. Taylor, J. Ruse 1802, J. Whatman 1801; volume 2,  text: Edmeads & Co. 1809; plates: J. Ruse 1802, Ruse & Turners 1806, Russell & co. 1810.