Orchids—Cornelius B. Durham | "Exotic orchids from the collection of Edward Salt, Esq., Ferniehurst", 1868

Orchids—Cornelius B. Durham

“Exotic orchids from the collection of Edward Salt, Esq., Ferniehurst”, two volumes of watercolour drawings of orchids so titled, 1868

2 volumes, large folio (705 x 495mm.), calligraphic titles with watercolour vignettes, 27 watercolour drawings of orchids, window mounted, contemporary half morocco gilt, one spine label chipped

Mill-owner Edward Salt had a world-renowned collection of orchids, recorded in these two volumes in sumptuous detail. He kept the plants in a bespoke odontoglossum house, considered a model of perfection, on his estate at Ferniehurst. Ferniehurst itself was built by Salt in the early 1860s. He married his first wife Mary Jane Susan Elgood on 10 July 1861; and it therefore seems likely that the house was built for her. There are no known pictures of the house and no building plans; however, maps of the area do show the basic plan of the house and of the glasshouses and other buildings. The Salt orchid collection was auctioned in 1892, when the estate was put up for sale as a result of the restructuring of the family firm.