D.G. Ehret Jamaican botany engraving. c1756

by Ehret, Georg Dionysius

Antique print of Jamaican botanical specimen with detail c.1756.

Original rare copperplate botanical engraving by English engraver F. Patton after the drawing by Georg Dionysius Ehret (born Heidelberg 1708 - died London 1770), for The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica by Irish physician and botanist, Patrick Browne (1720-1790), published in London c.1756.

Browne was born in Woodstock, County Mayo, but was sent to relatives on the island of Antigua in 1737. Owing to ill health he returned to Britain after 2 years. He studied medicine and natural history (in particular botany), and worked as a physician at St Thomas's Hospital in London. He returned to the West Indies, and visited Barbados, Montserrat, Antiqua and St Kitts, before settling in Jamaica and working there as a physician from 1746. Browne corresponded with the great botanist Carl Linnaeus, who he sent many papers he had written. Browne's major work was The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, illustrated by G.D. Ehret. Browne returned to Ireland and retired to Rushbrook near Claremorris, County Mayo, in 1771.

This is a fine engraving with later hand-colour. Page measures approximately 34.4 x 32cm (13.5 x 8.75 inches). To the intaglio impression measures 20 x 15 cm (7.7/8 x 5.7/8 inches)