W.Curtis White Hibiscus Trionum hand-coloured botanical engraving. c1792

by William Curtis

William Curtis Hibiscus Trionum,  Bladder Hibiscus antique print.

This hand-coloured copperplate engraving by Francis Sansom is from the second edition of Curtis's Botanical Magazine. Publication of The Botanical Magazine was begun in 1787 by William Curtis (1746-1799) Praefectus Hortis (Horticultural Manager) of Chelsea Physic Garden in London, “in response.. to solicitations for a work... (combining) Botany and Gardening”. Curtis's Botanical Magazine illustrated botanical specimens from around the world. It has been published almost continuously for nearly 240 years - now published as Kew Magazine.

Illustrations for The Botanical Magazine have always been revered for their scientific accuracy as well as for their beauty. This is a lovely original William Curtis botanical engraving of a white flower on hand-made paper.

Size of page 235 x 140mm (9 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches).