Nathaniel Wallich | Plantae asiaticae rariores, London, 1830, 3 volumes, green morocco gilt

Nathaniel Wallich

Plantae asiaticae rariores; or, descriptions and figures of a select number of unpublished East Indian plants. London: Treuttel and Würtz, Treuttel junior and Richter, 1830-1832

3 volumes, folio (533 x 348mm.), half-titles in volumes 1 and 3, 294 hand-coloured lithographed plates numbered 1-300 (on Whatman paper dated 1830-1832), plates 222-223 on one folding sheet, plates 296-300 a double-page map of India, olive green morocco elaborately gilt by Riviere, spines gilt in compartments with tan morocco lettering-pieces, gilt edges, occasional light foxing (mostly affecting guards), slight offsetting on map

A beautiful record of the plants of India, with detailed textual descriptions and fine illustrations, many of which were produced by the local artists Vishnupersaud and Gorachaud. Publication was sponsored by the East India Company, who appear in the list of subscribers with an order for 40 copies.

Wallich (1786-1854) worked as a surgeon and botanist for the Danish East India Company and then the East India Company, working as superintendent at the Calcutta Botanical Garden. The specimens he collected formed the heart of the East India Company Herbarium, which is now at Kew Gardens.

LITERATURE:

Dunthorne 326; Nissen BBI 2099

PROVENANCE:

Christopher Turnor (1809-1886), Stoke Rochford Library (Lincolnshire), armorial bookplate