P.J. Buc'hoz | Collection précieuse et enluminée des fleurs plus belles et les plus curieuses, [1776], 2 vols in one

Pierre-Joseph Buc'hoz

Collection précieuse et enluminée des fleurs plus belles et les plus curieuses qui se cultiventant dans les jardins de la Chine que dans ceux de l'Europe. Paris, [1776]

2 parts in 1 volume, folio (490 x 305mm.), engraved calligraphic title-pages (that of volume 1 printed in red), 200 fine etched plates (most hand-coloured), engraved "Liste des fleurs" at end of volume 2, later boards, some marginal soiling and browning at extremities, binding rubbed

A fine copy of a rare and distinctive work. Buc'hoz (1731–1807) was a physician, artist, and naturalist from Lorraine. Many of his "very fine decorative plates" (Dunthorne) are etched after Chinese drawings of native plants and flowers, with pale blue skies and rocky backgrounds, and, frequently, with birds, butterflies, insects, or animals introduced to the compositions. Buc'hoz was the first European to copy the Chinese style in this way, and several of the plates are captioned in Chinese. 

LITERATURE:

Cleveland Herbal 528; Dunthorne 60; Nissen BBI 282; Pritzel 1326 

This rare work is not included in Hunt, Stafleu or Great Flower Books, and no copy appeared in the Plesch or de Belder collections.