William Curtis Winter Hellebore or Aconite antique engraving c1786

by William Curtis

Antique print of Helleborus Hyemalis (now Eranthis Hyemalis), Winter Hellebore or Aconite.

Original hand-coloured copperplate engraving on hand-made paper, drawn and engraved in 1786, as the third plate in the first edition of The Botanical Magazine by William Curtis. Work for The Botanical Magazine began in 1786 by William Curtis “in response.. to solicitations for a work... (combining) Botany and Gardening”. William Curtis (1746-1799) was Praefectus Hortis (Horticultural Manager) of Chelsea Physic Garden when he began publication of this landmark work illustrating botany from around the world.

Curtis's Botanical Magazine is the longest-running illustrated periodical in the world. Still in publication today, nearly 240 years later, it is now known as Kew Magazine. William Curtis was responsible for extending education to the public - rather than just publishing for other botanists.

This has a slight bend towards the bottom at the left. It is a crisp well-defined plate that is otherwise in beautiful condition. The page size is 235 x 140 cm (9 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches). To the plate mark measures 200 x 120mm (7 7/8 x 4 3/4 inches).