Victor Paquet and P.C. Rouillard | Choix des plus belles roses, 1845-1854

[Victor Paquet and P.C. Rouillard]

Choix des plus belles roses, peintes d'après nature, imprimées en couleur et retouchées au pinceau. Paris: Dusacq, 1845-1854

FIRST EDITION, folio (380 x 265mm.), 60 engraved plates (1-30 after Annica Bricogne, the others unsigned), printed in colours and finished in colours by hand, contemporary green morocco-backed boards, occasional light spotting

ONE OF THE RAREST ROSE BOOKS. In a letter to Lord Fairhaven loosely inserted, bookseller Charles Traylen writes: “I cannot give you much information as I have never before handled a copy of the work, but I do know that the majority of the stock was destroyed by a fire at the publishers, and therefore it is one of the most difficult volumes of flowers to secure… I am sorry I cannot give you further information but this probably a confirmation of its rarity”.

ABPC records only one copy at auction.

LITERATURE:

Great Flower Books, p. 48; Nissen BBI 2232

PROVENANCE:

acquired from Charles W. Traylen, Guildford, Surrey, 1954 (typed letter signed loosely inserted)