William Curtis | Flora Londinensis, London, 1777-1798, 3 volumes, later half calf

William Curtis

Flora Londinensis: or plates and descriptions of such plants as grow wild in the environs of London: with their places of growth, and times of flowering: their several names according to Linnaeus and other authors: with a particular description of each plant in Latin and English. London: the author and B. White, 1777-1798

3 volumes, folio (468 x 277mm.), engraved vignette on title-page, list of subscribers, 432 (141+149+142) hand-coloured engraved plates each with facing letterpress description, manuscript plate numbering in each volume, later half morocco, small ink stain on plate 89 of volume 2 (Lysimachia nummularia) and previous text leaf, small tear at head of text leaf for plate 18 in volume 3 (Primula farinosa)

FIRST EDITION. A substantial survey of native plants and fungi within a ten-mile radius of London, which paid close attention to the characteristics of each plant in order to classify them correctly. Many of the plates show the details of the plant at each stage of its growth and development, rather than a snapshot at one particular stage.

Curtis (1746-1799) trained as an apothecary and was working at the Chelsea Physic Garden when he began publishing this monumental work on local flora. It was issued in parts from 1775 onwards and subsequently sold in volumes provided with title-pages, as here, either in two or three volumes. It proved something of a financial burden to Curtis so he then started his Botanical Magazine in 1787 which focussed on more ornamental and imported plants for gardeners.

The fine plates are by Francis Sansom, James Sowerby, William Kilburn and Sydenham Edwards; Curtis specified that they should be drawn life size.

LITERATURE:

Cleveland Herbal 532; ESTC T83980; Henrey 595; Nissen BBI 440

PROVENANCE:

John Thornton Rogers (1834-1900, son of the naturalist John Rogers), of Sevenoaks, armorial bookplate, and manuscript note "Given to J.T.R. by E. Herries 1897 from the St Julian's Library" (St Julian's is also in Sevenoaks)