William Curtis botanical plate Iris Persica. Persian Iris c1786.

by Curtis, William

Plate No.1. Persian Iris for William Curtis's The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed published in London c1786.

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”. The illustrations for The Botanical Magazine have always been revered for their scientific accuracy as well as their beauty. Illustrating botanical specimens from around the world, this publicationis now known as The Kew Magazine. Still finely illustrated, this botanical has been published continuously for over 230 years. This is the first illustration ever published for it.

This beautiful white Iris was engraved on a copper plate and then printed on hand-made paper. As with all 18th century botanical illustrations the image was tinted with watercolour at the time of publication. Both the copperplate-engraved illustration and the accompanying text are slightly age-soiled, as is to be expected of a well-appreciated image that is 230 years old. Page size is approximately 240 x 140mm (9 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches).