Superb Henry Andrews Heath engraving, Erica formosa bicolor, c1805

by Andrews, Henry

H.C. Andrews exquisitely detailed original hand-coloured antique print.

Henry Cranke Andrews (c1770-1830) was an English naturalist, botanical artist, engraver, colourist and publisher who also taught private students to draw and etch from nature. He lived in Knightsbridge and married Anne Kennedy, the daughter of John Kennedy, a Hammersmith nurseryman who assisted Andrews in describing the plants he illustrated.

Andrews meticulously engraved his Coloured Engravings of Heaths onto copper plates, printed them onto hand-made paper, and coloured each by hand "from living plants only" - illustrating all the known genus of Erica from South Africa. They were published in London between 1794 and 1830 and resulted in what was dubbed "Erica mania" as the plants and their illustrations were introduced to the British public.

In fine condition, with text page description and taxonomy in Latin and English.16.5 x 10 inches (42 x 25.4 cm)