William Curtis Camellia Japonica. Rose Camellia hand-coloured engraving c1788.

by Curtis, William

Camellia Japonica beautiful William Curtis antique print c1788.

Original hand-coloured copperplate engraving for William Curtis's The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed published in London c1788.

In 1787 when he was Praefectus Hortis (Horticultural Manager) of Chelsea Physic Garden in London, William Curtis (1746-1799) began publication of The Botanical Magazine “in response.. to solicitations for a work... (combining) Botany and Gardening”. Illustrating botanical specimens from around the world, this publication has been published continuously for over 230 years. It is now known as The Kew Magazine. Illustrations for The Botanical Magazine have always been revered - for their scientific accuracy as well as their beauty.

This is a lovely illustration, but unfortunately the page has considerable soiling and has printing offset from its text (which usually indicates excessive pressure during storage at some time during the 230 years since publication). The accompanying text for this plate is also available (in similar condition). Size of page is approximately 240 x 140mm (9 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches).