Practical Botany in Antique Prints

Spices and herbs have been appreciated - and even coveted - for thousands of years. They were traded through Egypt, Persia, the Roman Empire, Turkey, India and China. Trade flourished overland, with salt and other minerals, flax and linen, cotton and silks, oils and wine, coffee and tea... and exotic spices, particularly Chinese cassia (cinnamon), turmeric and ginger. Taken by early traders to the Moluccan Islands, spices were cultivated and thrived in the wonderful climate of Malaku. Referred to as the Spice Islands, the location was closely guarded by early traders. Nutmeg was not cultivated extensively and cloves proved sensitive to growing conditions, so both became more valuable. Spices were not only in demand for their fragrance and flavour in food-preparation, but also for their medicinal properties.

           
William Rhind left his home and medical practice in Elgin, Scotland and moved to Edinburgh for better access to research material. He started by writing about excursions around Edinburgh. As well as botany and wildlife, Rhind included important new information about local geology. For younger readers, Rhind wrote popular illustrated books about the earth, geology, meteorology, geography, botany and zoology. He studied all facets of nature except fauna - possibly because he had mobility difficulties all his life.)
   
 
 
 


 

Rhind's most spectacular work was A History of the Vegetable Kingdom...and their application in the arts, manufactures, and domestic economy. Rhind employed talented local artist, Walter Hood Fitch, to provide two kinds of vegetation. Fitch first illustrated groups of individual botanical specimens with their seeds, fruit, flowers and foliage; and then Fitch drew wonderfully three-dimensional landscapes with natural growth of trees and plants, each grouped their climate location or family. Fitch botanical drawings were each carefully engraved onto steel plates (by reversed image in a mirror, for printing in the correct direction). After being printed from the inked plate each specimen was then hand-coloured with watercolours for publication. The finely engraved artful landscapes were not coloured at the time but are usually found with later colour - which certainly adds to their appeal.

Find Practical Botany antique prints on this website at antiqueprintclub.com/Products/Antique-Prints/Botany-Flowers-Fruit-Herbs/Fruits,Nuts,Vegies-BotanyUses.aspx