CURTIS, William (1746-99). Flora Londinensis: or Plates and Descriptions of such plants as grow wild in the Environs of London. London: for the author and B. White, [1775]-1777-1798. First edition of William Curtis's impressive record of English flora, with the second issue of the title-page of volume I giving the author's address as his Botanic Garden, Lambeth Marsh. Curtis's reputation as a botanist was such that he was made the praefectus horti (or director) of the Society of Apothecaries at the Chelsea Physic Garden in 1772. The following year he established a botanical garden for the cultivation and study of native British plants at Bermondsey. This garden was to move twice: first to Lambeth Marsh and later Brompton. He cultivated some 6,000 species from all over the world in his garden, including medicinal and culinary herbs, English wild flowers, trees and shrubs. For an annual subscription of a guinea patrons could visit Curtis's garden and attend the lectures he gave there, and for an extra guinea a year they could also have a share in the plants and seeds from the garden. The first five fascicules of Flora Londinensis were published, with the support of Lord Bute, over 12 years. 'By 1787, the results of [Curtis's] labours were two splendid folio volumes and a deficit which made the continuance of his venture impossible' (Blunt & Stearn, p.212). In 1787 followed a gap of at least three years, during which Curtis launched the Botanical Magazine to raise funds, before the Flora Londinensis could resume publication. '"One brought me pudding," said Curtis, "the other praise"' (John Gilmour, British Botanists , 1944). Henrey 595; Hunt 650; Nissen BBI 440; Stafleu and Cowan 1286. 2 volumes, folio (460 x 270mm). Engraved vignette on title-page, 432 hand-coloured plates after Sydenham Edwards, William Kilburn James Sowerby and others, dedication leaves and leaf of subscribers in vol. I. (upper outer corner of one text leaf in vol. I torn and repaired with text supplied in manuscript, inner upper corner of one plate in vol. 2 repaired in the margin far from engraving, some leaves very lightly browned, a few instances of offsetting). Contemporary red half morocco, panelled spines decorated and lettered in gilt (edges rubbed). Provenance : contemporary manuscript corrections to the subscribers list and manuscript numbering on plates – Frederick du Cane Godman (bookplates).
CURTIS, William (1746-99). Flora Londinensis: or Plates and Descriptions of such plants as grow wild in the Environs of London. London: for the author and B. White, [1775]-1777-1798. First edition of William Curtis's impressive record of English flora, with the second issue of the title-page of volume I giving the author's address as his Botanic Garden, Lambeth Marsh. Curtis's reputation as a botanist was such that he was made the praefectus horti (or director) of the Society of Apothecaries at the Chelsea Physic Garden in 1772. The following year he established a botanical garden for the cultivation and study of native British plants at Bermondsey. This garden was to move twice: first to Lambeth Marsh and later Brompton. He cultivated some 6,000 species from all over the world in his garden, including medicinal and culinary herbs, English wild flowers, trees and shrubs. For an annual subscription of a guinea patrons could visit Curtis's garden and attend the lectures he gave there, and for an extra guinea a year they could also have a share in the plants and seeds from the garden. The first five fascicules of Flora Londinensis were published, with the support of Lord Bute, over 12 years. 'By 1787, the results of [Curtis's] labours were two splendid folio volumes and a deficit which made the continuance of his venture impossible' (Blunt & Stearn, p.212). In 1787 followed a gap of at least three years, during which Curtis launched the Botanical Magazine to raise funds, before the Flora Londinensis could resume publication. '"One brought me pudding," said Curtis, "the other praise"' (John Gilmour, British Botanists , 1944). Henrey 595; Hunt 650; Nissen BBI 440; Stafleu and Cowan 1286. 2 volumes, folio (460 x 270mm). Engraved vignette on title-page, 432 hand-coloured plates after Sydenham Edwards, William Kilburn James Sowerby and others, dedication leaves and leaf of subscribers in vol. I. (upper outer corner of one text leaf in vol. I torn and repaired with text supplied in manuscript, inner upper corner of one plate in vol. 2 repaired in the margin far from engraving, some leaves very lightly browned, a few instances of offsetting). Contemporary red half morocco, panelled spines decorated and lettered in gilt (edges rubbed). Provenance : contemporary manuscript corrections to the subscribers list and manuscript numbering on plates – Frederick du Cane Godman (bookplates).
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