William Curtis Yellow Variegated Iris. Sowerby engraving c1787

by Curtis, William

Fine 18th century antique print of a Yellow Variegated Iris, William Curtis engraving c1787.

Beautiful original hand-coloured copperplate engraving on hand-made paper, drawn and engraved by James Sowerby in 1787 for 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. Curtis's Botanical Magazine illustrates botanical specimens from around the world. Still in publication today, 230 years later, it is now known as The Kew Magazine, and is the longest running illustrated periodical in the world.

This beautiful plate is one of the finest despite the very slight rub of the paper at top right. The page size is 235 x 140 cm (9 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches). To the plate mark measures 200 x 115mm (7 7/8 x 4 1/2 inches).