Premium pages left without account:

Auction archive: Lot number 28

Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) Description of the Victoria Regia, or Great Water-Lily of South America . London: Reeve Brothers, 1847. 2° (445 x 298mm). Half-title. 4 hand-coloured lithographic plates by Walter Fitch, printed by Reeve Brother...

Auction 04.06.2001
4 Jun 2001
Estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
ca. US$11,209 - US$16,814
Price realised:
£9,400
ca. US$13,171
Auction archive: Lot number 28

Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) Description of the Victoria Regia, or Great Water-Lily of South America . London: Reeve Brothers, 1847. 2° (445 x 298mm). Half-title. 4 hand-coloured lithographic plates by Walter Fitch, printed by Reeve Brother...

Auction 04.06.2001
4 Jun 2001
Estimate
£8,000 - £12,000
ca. US$11,209 - US$16,814
Price realised:
£9,400
ca. US$13,171
Beschreibung:

Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) Description of the Victoria Regia, or Great Water-Lily of South America . London: Reeve Brothers, 1847. 2° (445 x 298mm). Half-title. 4 hand-coloured lithographic plates by Walter Fitch, printed by Reeve Brothers. Original maroon half calf, titled in gilt on upper cover (extremities scuffed), modern blue cloth slip-case. Provenance : H.R.H. Mary, Duchess of Gloucester (1766-1857, author's presentation inscription on half-title 'To Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, with the dutiful respects of the Author. Royal Gardens, Kew. Sept. 21 1847.'). FIRST EDITION OF THIS RARE WORK, AN AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED TO THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER. 'One of the most celebrated plants from this period was the water-lily Victoria amazonica , originally called the Victoria regia by [John] Lindley in honour of England's reigning monarch. Discovered at the beginning of the century by European explorers, it created a veritable sensation in England when the eclectic and versatile Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) managed to coax the plant to flower [in 1849] while working at Chatsworth and Chiswick as head gardener for the Duke of Devonshire.' ( An Oak Spring Flora p.378). The present volume is one of five monographs on the plant. The first by John Lindley, titled Description of the Victoria regia , was published in 1837 in an edition of 25 copies, the present work was second, followed by La Victoria Regia, au point de vue horticole et botanique.. by J.E. Planchon and L. Houtte in 1850-51 (see lot 39). This was followed by a second work by Hooker, published in 1851. The final work, by John Fisk Allen, Victoria Regia; or the great water lily of America was published in 1854. Hooker's text includes lengthy extracts from the narratives describing the plant's discovery and a detailed physical description. In addition Hooker gives information on the best method of cultivating the plant in temperate rather than tropical climates. The plates are by Walter Hood Fitch (1817-1892), and are one of Fitch's first great triumphs in the field of botanical illustration. He remained the chief (and usually sole) artists for the Botanical Magazine for forty-one years, producing over 9,000 drawings. Great Flower Books (1990) p.103; Nissen BBI 919; Stafleu & Cowan 3011.

Auction archive: Lot number 28
Auction:
Datum:
4 Jun 2001
Auction house:
Christie's
London, King Street
Beschreibung:

Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) Description of the Victoria Regia, or Great Water-Lily of South America . London: Reeve Brothers, 1847. 2° (445 x 298mm). Half-title. 4 hand-coloured lithographic plates by Walter Fitch, printed by Reeve Brothers. Original maroon half calf, titled in gilt on upper cover (extremities scuffed), modern blue cloth slip-case. Provenance : H.R.H. Mary, Duchess of Gloucester (1766-1857, author's presentation inscription on half-title 'To Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, with the dutiful respects of the Author. Royal Gardens, Kew. Sept. 21 1847.'). FIRST EDITION OF THIS RARE WORK, AN AUTHOR'S PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED TO THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER. 'One of the most celebrated plants from this period was the water-lily Victoria amazonica , originally called the Victoria regia by [John] Lindley in honour of England's reigning monarch. Discovered at the beginning of the century by European explorers, it created a veritable sensation in England when the eclectic and versatile Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) managed to coax the plant to flower [in 1849] while working at Chatsworth and Chiswick as head gardener for the Duke of Devonshire.' ( An Oak Spring Flora p.378). The present volume is one of five monographs on the plant. The first by John Lindley, titled Description of the Victoria regia , was published in 1837 in an edition of 25 copies, the present work was second, followed by La Victoria Regia, au point de vue horticole et botanique.. by J.E. Planchon and L. Houtte in 1850-51 (see lot 39). This was followed by a second work by Hooker, published in 1851. The final work, by John Fisk Allen, Victoria Regia; or the great water lily of America was published in 1854. Hooker's text includes lengthy extracts from the narratives describing the plant's discovery and a detailed physical description. In addition Hooker gives information on the best method of cultivating the plant in temperate rather than tropical climates. The plates are by Walter Hood Fitch (1817-1892), and are one of Fitch's first great triumphs in the field of botanical illustration. He remained the chief (and usually sole) artists for the Botanical Magazine for forty-one years, producing over 9,000 drawings. Great Flower Books (1990) p.103; Nissen BBI 919; Stafleu & Cowan 3011.

Auction archive: Lot number 28
Auction:
Datum:
4 Jun 2001
Auction house:
Christie's
London, King Street
Try LotSearch

Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!

  • Search lots and bid
  • Price database and artist analysis
  • Alerts for your searches
Create an alert now!

Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.

Create an alert