Begonia platanifolia with pink-tipped petals. Paxton antique print c1836

by Paxton, Joseph

Striking composition of pretty pink and white Begonia.

Original colour-printed and hand-finished aquatint engraved by F.W. Smith from a drawing by Samuel Holden for Joseph Paxton's Magazine of Botany & Register of Flowering Plants, published in London c1836.

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). The right side has tiny flaws into the paper. Price considerably reduced.