Flora Londinensis. Alopecurus agrestis, Slender Foxtail Grass engraving c1820.

by Flora Londinensis

Slender Foxtail Grass, antique print in fine condition.

Original copperplate engraving with contemporary colour, for Flora Londinensis, containing a history of the plants indigenous to Great Britain, illustrated by figures of the natural size - published in London between 1817 and 1828 by George Graves F.L.S. and eminent English botanist (Sir) William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865)... continuing the work begun by William Curtis (1746-1799). Graves and Hooker used the original engraved plates for William Curtis, and re-engraved those that had been reduced smaller than life-size (due to financial constraints of Curtis). As each specimen was engraved as close to life-size as possible, the size of the engraving platemark of each printed page varied in size.

While he was Praefectus Hortis (Horticultural Manager) of Chelsea Physic Garden in London, William Curtis (1746-1799) began publishing in 'parts' life-size hand-coloured copperplate engravings of all plants growing wild around London. Curtis left his Chelsea Physic Garden position and bought land to establish his own botanic gardens at Lambeth Marsh at the same time - and within a year had acquired 6,000 plant species. Although Curtis was praised for his efforts with the large Flora Londinensis, he ran out of funds (despite being subsidized for Lord Bute, who was responsible for the laying out of Kew Gardens).

With accompanying descriptive text. Page size is approximatelyl 430 x 285mm (17 x 11 1/4 inches)