The Library of Henry Rogers Broughton, 2nd Baron Fairhaven Part II

Robert John Thornton Botanical extracts: or philosophy of botany. London: T. Bensley, 1810 FIRST EDITION, 2 volumes bound in three, folio (460 x 325mm.), titles to volumes one and 2 with wood-engraved vignettes, volume 3 with engraved title, 82 engraved plates, a few double-page, contemporary straight-grained maroon morocco gilt, some plates cropped, some dampstaining, binding slightly rubbed; sold not subject to return Stafleu describes the work as "a bibliographer's nightmare", as few copies are alike. The plates are mostly botanical, there are also double-page views of showing Chinese tea cultivation and eruptions of both Vesuvius and Etna. Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) was an English physician and botanist, best known for his A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus Von Linnæus (1797-1807) and The British Flora (1812). This much more rare work is comprised of 3 sections, with this first edition finely bound in 2 volumes. LITERATURE: Nissen BBI 1956; Stafleu TL2 14.284

View 1 of Lot 486: Robert John Thornton | Botanical extracts: or philosophy of botany, 1810, 3 vols, contemporary maroon morocco gilt

robert john thornton | botanical extracts: or philosophy of botany, 1810, 3 vols, contemporary maroon morocco gilt

The John Golden Library: Book Illustration in the Age of Scientific Discovery

Thornton, Robert John New Illustrations of the Sexual System of Carolus Von Linnaeus … The Temple of Flora, or Garden of Nature. London: for the Publisher, by T.Bensley [1799-] 1807-[1812] Folio (575 x 460mm). 31 finely colored aquatint, mezzotint and etched botanical plates sumptuously depicting flowers and 5 colored portraits of: Linnaeus, "Linnaeus in his Lapland Dress," "Flora dispensing Her Favours on the Earth," "Aescapulius, Flora, Ceres and Cupid honouring the Bust of Linnaeus" and "Cupid inspiring Plants with Love" and with 12 engraved calligraphic titles, half-titles, dedications, contents leaves, etc., 6 engraved plates and tables, 9 uncolored engraved portraits of Thornton, Linnaeus, Queen Charlotte, etc.; but for some offsetting most noticeably to text, the colors fresh and vibrant. Contemporary English light green straight-grained morocco, ornately gilt, plum endpapers; scuffing, wear to edges. The magnificent Doheny Copy of the greatest English Flower Book and a defining work of the period. One of the grandest and most sumptuous of English botanical books, couched in the Romantic idiom. A lovely copy apparently bound from the original parts, with first or early issues of many of the plates and one in proof state. Conceived on a grandiose scale, New Illustration was to comprise three parts: a dissertation on the sexual reproductive cycle of plants; an explanation of Linnæus's plant system, lavishly illustrated with botanical plates and portraits of botanists; and "The Temple of Flora," which was to have no less than 70 large plates of exotic plant species arranged according to the classification system of Linnæus. Each species was to appear in its native environment. The production of the plates for "The Temple of Flora" involved a variety of techniques—aquatint, mezzotint, stipple engraving, and stippling with line engraving, or etching, which required the participation of a large number of artists. Among those commissioned by Thornton were Philip Reinagle, who executed most of the preparatory drawings; Abraham Pether, known for his moody quasi-Gothic landscapes; Sydenham Edwards and Peter Henderson; and the engravers Richard Earlom, James Caldwall, and Thomas Burke. Only the plate of the Rose was drawn by Thornton and executed by Earlom. In spite of using a host of artists and engravers, Thornton managed to "maintain a remarkable homogeneity of style throughout" (Oak Spring Flora), but production was a protracted stop-and-go affair, causing the text and plates to appear irregularly, and to bring Thornton ultimately to the brink of personal bankruptcy. For his contribution to English botanical illustration, Thornton has been compared to Redouté by Alan Thomas: "[M]ore or less coeval with Redouté in France came the production of the greatest English colour-plate flower book. … What Redouté produced under the patronage of L'Héritier, Marie Antionette, the Empress Josephine, Charles X and the Duchesse de Berry, Thornton set out to do alone. … The result was almost total failure. … His fortune was engulfed and his family reduced to penury. … It is easy to raise one's eyebrows at Thornton's unworldly and injudicious approach to publishing … but he produced … the most strikingly beautiful set of flower plates ever to be printed in England [and] one of the loveliest books in the world" (Great Books and Book Collectors, pp. 142–144). Yet, as its enduring appeal proves, Thornton's vision transcends the genre. That a book of botanical illustration could come to summarize the Age of Romanticism is a tribute to imaginative genius in aesthetic crossed with scientific inquiry. "To arrive at Thornton is to boil down all the diversities of the time in architecture, poetry, painting, fiction, music, from Walpole and Sir William Chambers to Shelley and the music of Weber, by way of Chatterton writing in Gothic or African mood of Medieval Bristol or reeking tigers, by way of the wild imaginings of Turner, or Martin or Francis Danby, by way of elements even in Blake, in Coleridge, in Wordsworth. An age is packed into these folio plates which Thornton directed" (Geoffrey Grigson in Thornton's Temple of Flora, p. 12). REFERENCE: Dunthorne 301; Grigson and Buchanan, Thornton's Temple of Flora (1951); Nissen 1955; Stafleu TL2 14.283. PROVENANCE: Estelle Doheny (leather book label; her sale Christie's New York, 21 February 1989, lot 2196)

View 1 of Lot 46: Thornton, Robert John | The Age of Romanticism fully blooms

thornton, robert john | the age of romanticism fully blooms

Fine Books & Manuscripts Online

THORNTON, ROBERT JOHN Temple of Flora, or Garden of the Botanist, Poet, Painter, and Philosopher. London: for the author, 1812 Large 4to (14⅞ x 12 in.; 378 x 305 mm). Engraved calligraphic title on two leaves, 28 stipple, aquatint, or mezzotint plates including frontispiece, partially printed in color and finished by hand, 2 black and white mezzotint plates ("Cupid, Flora, Ceres and Esculapius Hounoring the Bust of Linnaeus," "Cupid inspiring plants with Love") by Maddocks after Russell and Bartolozzi and Landseer after Reinagle; title-pages foxed, the first with a closed tear at lower margin, scattered soiling and foxing throughout, "The Persian Cyclamen" short and inserted from another copy. Contemporary half skiver over marbled boards; extremities worn with loss to head of spine. The "lottery edition" of Thornton's celebrated and idiosyncratic work. Grigson speculates that copies of, or plates from, this smaller formatted edition of the Temple of Florawere to be given as prizes during the famous "Botanical Lottery" that Thornton was compelled to organize in order to stave off bankruptcy caused by the production of the monumental large folio edition (Grigson & Buchanan, Thornton's Temple of Flora, 1951). REFERENCES: Dunthorne 302; Great Flower Booksp. 77; Stafleu & Cowan Tl2 14.283; Johnston/Cleveland 763 PROVENANCE: J. Kyrle Fletcher Ltd. (original 1935 invoice laid in)

thornton, robert john | temple of flora, or garden of the botanist, poet, painter, and philosopher. london: for the author, 1812

Important Americana

Two hand-colored and color-printed aquatint and stipple engravings by Hopwood and Warner, London: June 1st., 1802. Framed. includes: The Quadrangular Passion Flower — The Winged Passion Flower each sheet approximately: 498 by 362 mm  19 5/8 by 14 1/4 in

the temple of flora: a pair of aquatint and stipple engravings

Aquatint printed in colors, with hand-coloring, after Peter Henderson, 1804, on heavy wove paper, with margins, laid down to back-mat, pale light- stain, the sheet edges with remains of paper and adhesive from over-mat, small holes and losses at right, framed

temple of flora: the blue egyptian water lily

Aquatint and engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, after Philip Reinagle, 1803, on heavy wove paper, with margins, in good condition apart from damp stain and mottled foxing along the left sheet edge, verso, showing through slightly in the left margin, pale mat stain and light surface soiling in the margins throughout, framed

temple of flora: pitcher plant

Aquatint and line engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, the first state (of two), after Philip Reinagle, 1798, on wove paper, with margins, in good condition except the margins with pale mat stain throughout, significant creasing at bottom, three short horizontal tears at the right sheet edge (longest 1/2", repaired), framed

temple of flora: the aloe

Aquatint, line and stipple engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, the second (final) state, after Peter Henderson, 1801, on heavy wove paper, with margins, in good condition apart from foxing, mat stain, light surface soiling and creasing, primarily in the margins, time stain along the sheet edges, a small break above the plate mark at upper right, framed

temple of flora: the maggot-bearing stapelia

Aquatint and engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, after Philip Reinagle, c. 1803, on heavy wove paper, with margins, in good condition except the sheet edges with time stain, a few short tears at bottom, a few small losses at right, pale mat stain and surface soiling in the margins and on the verso, framed

temple of flora: american bog plants

Mezzotint printed in colors, with hand-coloring, the second state (of four) after Peter Henderson, 1801, on wove paper with the J. Whatman watermark, with margins; together with ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (PUBLISHER): SNOWDROP, mezzotint printed in colors, with hand-coloring, c. 1804, on wove paper, with margins, in good condition except the margins of the first with mat stain and scattered foxing, a shallow paper loss at the upper sheet edge, the second laid down to board and glued to the overmat, several specks of foxing, framed (2)

temple of flora: the dragon arum

Mezzotint printed in colors, with hand-coloring, after Philip Reinagle, 1798, on heavy wove paper, with margins, generally in good condition apart from a surface scrape in the lower image, with significant soiling and discoloration throughout, the sheet edges with several repaired tears, framed

temple of flora: tulips

Mezzotint with aquatint and roulette printed in colors, with hand-coloring, Plate B, the third state (of four), after Philip Reinagle, 1799, on wove paper, with narrow margins, re-attached on three sides and made up at bottom (3/4" wide), a few light surface scuffs, with discoloration and soiling in the margins and on the verso throughout

temple of flora: the superb lily

Aquatint and engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, after Peter Henderson, 1802, on heavy wove paper, with margins, in good condition apart from a diagonal crease through the image at left, the sheet edges with repaired tears and losses at right, unevenly trimmed at left, discoloration in the margins and on the verso, framed

temple of flora: winged passion-flower

Aquatint with stipple and line engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, the second state (of three), after Peter Henderson, 1803, on wove paper, with the J. Whatman 1804 (?) watermark, with margins, in good condition except the margins with mat stain and surface soiling, unevenly trimmed at right, the verso with adhesive discoloration along upper sheet edge, showing through on the recto, the left margin with vertical flattened creases, a 3/4" horizontal tear, framed

temple of flora: a group of carnations

Aquatint and engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, after Peter Henderson, 1800, on heavy wove paper, with a 3/4" wide made-up lower margin (bi-secting the title), the sheet edges shaved, with time stain at left, discoloration and surface soiling in the margins and on the verso, framed

temple of flora: white lily

Collection of plates extracted from The Temple of Flora.  London, 1801–07

Collection of plates extracted from The Temple of Flora.  London, 1801–07 Together, 6 broadsheets (each approximately 23  1/8  x 18  1/2  in.; 590 x 470 mm).  Aquatint and line engraving, printed in color and finished by hand after Reinagle and Henderson; some soiling and yellowing, generally not affecting images.

thornton, robert john

Mezzotint printed in colors, with hand-coloring, the second (final) state, after Philip Reinagle, 1798, on heavy wove paper, with margins, in good condition apart from pale light-stain, faint soiling and a few fox marks in the margins, the verso with adhesive remains at the upper sheet corners

The Narrow Leaved Kalmia — a plate from The Temple of Flora. London: 1799–1807

The Narrow Leaved Kalmia — a plate from The Temple of Flora. London: 1799–1807 Broadsheet (21 1/4 x 16 1/16 in.; 540 x 408 mm.). Aquatint and stipple, printed in color and finished by hand, by James Caldwall after Philip Reinagle. Matted and framed.

The Indian Reed — a  plate from The Temple of Flora. London: 1799–1807

The Indian Reed — a  plate from The Temple of Flora. London: 1799–1807 Broadsheet (21 1/8 x 16 in.; 537 x 406 mm.). Aquatint and line engraving, printed in color and finished by hand, by James Caldwall after Andrew Henderson. Second state (Dunthorne II). Matted and framed.

Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History

Large folio (575 x 455mm.), 29 (of 31) plates engraved in aquatint, mezzotint, stipple or line by Caldwell, Stadler, Earlom Warner and others, after Henderson, Reinagle and others, printed in colours and finished by hand, most plates in Buchanan’s second or third state (other than those found in one state only), contemporary olive straight-grained morocco gilt, without the first two allegorical plates, plate 21 (superb lily) split along plate line, binding rubbed

the temple of flora, or garden of nature. london: for the author, 1810]

comprising Flora dispensing Her Favours on the Earth, 1807, and another depicting a cupid in a landscape, dedicated to Linnaeus, each with mezzotint and aquatint printed in colors and finished with hand-coloring, matted and framed.

robert john thornton (publisher): two plates from the temple of flora, circa 1805

One mezzotint and one aquatint, both printed in colors, with hand-coloring, the first after Reinagle by Earlom, the second after Henderson by Caldwell, published by R. Thornton, London, 1798-1803, on wove paper laid down to card, with margins, discoloration in the upper sheets, the first with a diagonal scrape at the left sheet edge extending into the image, framed (2 prints)

temple of flora: tulips; and a group of carnations

Four intaglio prints printed in color, with hand-coloring, after designs by Renaigle, Pether, Henderson and Henderson respectively, published by R. Thornton, London, 1802-5, on various wove papers, with margins, the first and last laid down to card, the margins with discoloration, the sheet edges trimmed irregularly and with occasional losses, framed (4 prints)

temple of flora: four plates

Mezzotint and engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, the first state (of two), by Earlom after Thornton, together with, HYACINTHS, aquatint and engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, the first state (of two), by Warner after Edwards, published by Thornton, London, 1805, on wove papers, the first with the H. Smith 18** watermark; with margins, generally in good condition except the first with a short tear at upper sheet edge, the margins with a few specks of foxing, pale light- and time stain, the second with mottled discoloration throughout the sheet, occasional fox marks, framed (2 prints)

temple of flora: roses; and hyacinths

Aquatint and stipple engraving printed in colors, with hand-coloring, by Warner after Edwards, published by R. Thornton, London, 1801, on wove paper, with margins, in good condition except the sheet tipped to the back mat, the sheet edges trimmed irregularly, pale mat and light- stain, framed

temple of flora: hyacinths

Aquatint printed in colors, with hand-coloring, by Caldwell after Renaigle, the third (final) state, 1800, on wove paper with the J. Whatman 1794 watermark, with wide margins, in good condition apart from pale light- and mat stain, pin holes at the sheet corners, minor surface soiling, framed

temple of flora: the blue passion flower

Mezzotint and engraving, printed in colors with additional hand-coloring, engraved by Earlom after Thornton, 1805, a later impression of the second (final) state, on wove paper, with wide margins, in good condition apart from pale scattered fox marks, the plate mark at right partially breaking through and with associated discoloration, the margins with pale mat and time stain, stich holes at the disbound edge, framed

temple of flora: roses

Mezzotint printed in colors, with extensive hand-coloring and touches of gum arabic, an extraordinarily fresh, superb impression, the second (final) state, engraved by R. Earlom, after Philip Renaigle, 1798, on wove paper with the watermark H. Smith 18**, with wide margins, in good condition except the margins with occasional repaired creases and tears, slight surface soiling, pale mat stain

Magnificent Books, Manuscripts and Drawings from the Collection of Frederick 2nd Lord Hesketh

First edition, folio (580 x 460mm.), volume one with 122 plates, portraits and diagrams, including Linnaeus in his Lapland dress (plain), volume two, The Temple of Flora, with 6 engraved titles or dedications, an engraved portrait of the Queen, engraved contents leaf, and 31 coloured plates, comprising 3 allegorical hand-coloured aquatint plates ("Aesculapius, Flora, Ceres and Cupid honouring the Bust of Linnaeus", "Cupid Inspiring Plants with Love", "Flora dispensing Her Favours on the Earth"), and 28 fine hand-coloured plates of flowering plants, engraved in aquatint, mezzotint, stipple or line, contemporary russia, covers tooled in gilt and blind, spine gilt in compartments, occasional slight spotting, text offset onto background of American Cowslip, binding rebacked retaining most of original spines

a new illustration of the sexual system of... linnaeus... the temple of flora, or garden of nature. london: t. bensley, [1799]-1807

Second edition, 4to (385 x 305mm.), double-page engraved title, hand-coloured allegorical plate "Flora dispensing her favours on the Earth", plain plate of "Cupid, Flora, Ceres, and Esculapius honouring the bust of Linnaeus", plain plate of "Cupid inspiring plants with Love", 28 coloured plates of flowering plants (including the Persian Cyclamen, not found in some copies), stipple, mezzotint or aquatint, some partially printed in colours and finished by hand, nineteenth-century half calf

temple of flora, or garden of the botanist, poet, painter, and philosopher. london: the author, 1812

Travel, Atlases, Maps & Natural History

4to (392 x 307mm.), coloured frontispiece, 2 pictorial titles, 2 plain allegorical plates, 28 coloured plates of flowering plants (including the Persian cyclamen not found in some copies), stipple, mezzotint or aquatint, some partially printed in colours and finished by hand, recent half calf, [Dunthorne 302; Stafleu TL2 14.283; Great Flower Books, p.77], minor fraying to one or two text leaves

temple of flora. london: the author, 1812

Temple of Flora, or Garden of the Botanist, Poet, Painter, and Philosopher. London: for the author, 1812

Temple of Flora, or Garden of the Botanist, Poet, Painter, and Philosopher. London: for the author, 1812 Large 4to (14 7/8 x 12 in.; 378 x 305 mm.). Engraved calligraphic title on two leaves, 28 stipple, aquatint or mezzotint plates including frontispiece, partially printed in color and finished by hand, two black and white mezzotint plates with Cupid, Flora and Ceres honoring a bust of Linnaeus, and Cupid inspiring plants with love by Maddocks after Russell and Bartolozzi and Landseer after Reinagle; dampstain in lower inner margin of first few leaves without affecting image, some light marginal foxing and soiling. 19th-century three-quarter calf and marbled boards, gold-ruled borders; rebacked at an early date but backstrip worn, corners and edges torn.

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