THORNTON, Robert John. New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus... the Temple of Flora, or Garden of Nature London: T.Bensley for the publisher, [1798-]1807. Large 2° (559 x 462mm.). 18 engraved preliminary leaves (including titles, dedications, tables, etc.), engraved portraits of Thornton, Millington and Queen Charlotte, an emblematic plate ('The Universal Power of Love'), two portraits of Linnaeus (one in Lapland dress, both in coloured and uncoloured state) and 33 PLATES TO THE TEMPLE OF FLORA COLOUR-PRINTED IN AQUATINT AND MEZZOTINT AND FINISHED BY HAND (some tissue guards spotted with occasional light spotting to margins of plates or facing text leaves, slight oxidization to sky in background of Indian Reed plate). Contemporary marbled calf (covers detached, spine worn). Provenance : Alexander Spiers (Houston House, Renfrewshire bookplate). A GOOD COPY OF THE MOST FAMOUS ENGLISH BOTANICAL PLATE BOOK WITH THE TEMPLE OF FLORA PLATES IN FIRST OR EARLY STATES apparently bound from the parts issue. This copy includes the American Bog Plants and the Group of [Four] Auriculas, as well as the alternative plates the Pitcher Plant and the Group of [Two] Auriculas ; the plate of the Superb Lily is in Dunthorne's 'A' state, engraved by Ward, and the two late substitute plates ( The Queen Flower and the American Aloe ) are naturally not included in this early issue. Great Flower Books p.77; Dunthorne 301; Nissen 1955. Together with: A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus... vol.I... The Genera of Exotic and Indigenous plants... The Philosophy of Botany, being botanical, and philosophical extracts. London: T.Bensley for the author, 1799[-1810]. 2° (460 x 333mm.). Engraved portrait frontispiece of Queen Charlotte, 3 titles, dedication to Queen Charlotte (creased for folding and with '282 Dr Thornton' in a contemporary manuscript hand on verso'), 96 other engraved leaves (including diagrams, explanations, emblematic plates, plant anatomy, individual plants and 24 oval portraits of Scientists with vignette views beneath), (two plates folding, some shaved with a little loss, some light spotting mainly to the text). Contemporary marbled calf, uniform with the first work (spine worn, joints split). Provenance : Alexander Spiers (Elderslie, bookplate). Cf.Dunthorne 303; cf.Nissen 1956. The two works form an interesting set: they were apparently issued as separate works for the first eight parts. From the ninth part onwards they were combined: the original subscriber has evidently tried to have the two sets of parts bound in their most logical sequence, banishing the majority of the more scientifically-biased plates and text to the smaller volume. The resulting amalgam is remarkably complete, even including Thornton's anguished Apologies to My Subscribers leaf (at the end of the first work), however, as all collations vary, the lot is as usual sold not subject to return. (2)
THORNTON, Robert John. New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus... the Temple of Flora, or Garden of Nature London: T.Bensley for the publisher, [1798-]1807. Large 2° (559 x 462mm.). 18 engraved preliminary leaves (including titles, dedications, tables, etc.), engraved portraits of Thornton, Millington and Queen Charlotte, an emblematic plate ('The Universal Power of Love'), two portraits of Linnaeus (one in Lapland dress, both in coloured and uncoloured state) and 33 PLATES TO THE TEMPLE OF FLORA COLOUR-PRINTED IN AQUATINT AND MEZZOTINT AND FINISHED BY HAND (some tissue guards spotted with occasional light spotting to margins of plates or facing text leaves, slight oxidization to sky in background of Indian Reed plate). Contemporary marbled calf (covers detached, spine worn). Provenance : Alexander Spiers (Houston House, Renfrewshire bookplate). A GOOD COPY OF THE MOST FAMOUS ENGLISH BOTANICAL PLATE BOOK WITH THE TEMPLE OF FLORA PLATES IN FIRST OR EARLY STATES apparently bound from the parts issue. This copy includes the American Bog Plants and the Group of [Four] Auriculas, as well as the alternative plates the Pitcher Plant and the Group of [Two] Auriculas ; the plate of the Superb Lily is in Dunthorne's 'A' state, engraved by Ward, and the two late substitute plates ( The Queen Flower and the American Aloe ) are naturally not included in this early issue. Great Flower Books p.77; Dunthorne 301; Nissen 1955. Together with: A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus... vol.I... The Genera of Exotic and Indigenous plants... The Philosophy of Botany, being botanical, and philosophical extracts. London: T.Bensley for the author, 1799[-1810]. 2° (460 x 333mm.). Engraved portrait frontispiece of Queen Charlotte, 3 titles, dedication to Queen Charlotte (creased for folding and with '282 Dr Thornton' in a contemporary manuscript hand on verso'), 96 other engraved leaves (including diagrams, explanations, emblematic plates, plant anatomy, individual plants and 24 oval portraits of Scientists with vignette views beneath), (two plates folding, some shaved with a little loss, some light spotting mainly to the text). Contemporary marbled calf, uniform with the first work (spine worn, joints split). Provenance : Alexander Spiers (Elderslie, bookplate). Cf.Dunthorne 303; cf.Nissen 1956. The two works form an interesting set: they were apparently issued as separate works for the first eight parts. From the ninth part onwards they were combined: the original subscriber has evidently tried to have the two sets of parts bound in their most logical sequence, banishing the majority of the more scientifically-biased plates and text to the smaller volume. The resulting amalgam is remarkably complete, even including Thornton's anguished Apologies to My Subscribers leaf (at the end of the first work), however, as all collations vary, the lot is as usual sold not subject to return. (2)
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
