- 31
Thornton, Robert John.
Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 GBP
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Description
- Temple of Flora, or garden of the botanist, poet, painter, and philosopher. London: the author, 1812
- PAPER
Second edition, 4to (385 x 305mm.), double-page engraved title, hand-coloured allegorical plate "Flora dispensing her favours on the Earth", plain plate of "Cupid, Flora, Ceres, and Esculapius honouring the bust of Linnaeus", plain plate of "Cupid inspiring plants with Love", 28 coloured plates of flowering plants (including the Persian Cyclamen, not found in some copies), stipple, mezzotint or aquatint, some partially printed in colours and finished by hand, nineteenth-century half calf
Provenance
Frederick, 2nd Lord Hesketh, bookplate
Literature
Great Flower Books, p.77; Dunthorne 302; Stafleu TL2 14.283
Condition
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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
The reduced version of Thornton's magnificent work (see lot 22). Grigson speculates that copies of, or plates from, this smaller edition of the Temple of Flora were to be given as prizes during the famous "Botanical Lottery". Thornton was compelled to organise the raffle in order to stave off bankruptcy caused by the publication of the large folio edition of his monumental work (see Geoffrey Grigson and Handasyde Buchanan, Thornton's Temple of Flora, 1951).