Balsamina Mastersiana, Mr. Masters' Balsam. Paxton antique print c1840.

by Paxton, Joseph

Very pretty pink Balsam. "Delicacy, gracility, elegance, richness..." however... "Nothing exhibits more clearly the factitious taste of the present age, than the disposition to discard these splendid plants."

Original lithograph drawn and lithographed by Samuel Holden for Joseph Paxton's Magazine of Botany & Register of Flowering Plants, published in London c1840.

Sir Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) was a hard-working visionary. Starting as a gardener at 14, with little education, his enthusiasm, ability and application were rewarded by employment when 23 as Head Gardener of the Duke of Devonshire’s Chatsworth Estate - one of the finest gardens in England.

Paxton was recognised as botanist, architect and engineer. His design for a glass house conservatory at Chatsworth served as a model for Paxton’s design of the Crystal Palace for London's Great International Exhibition of 1851. Erected in 8 months, using radical prefabricated sections of glass and steel, the structure earned both Paxton and the head of construction a knighthood. Joseph Paxton was later a magistrate and also a member of Parliament.

Almost larger than the paper size of 230 x 155mm (9 x 6 inches).