NATURAL HISTORY BOOKS
Henry C. Andrews was an extremely talented and atypical botanical artist. Atypical in that he was not only the artist, but the engraver, colorist, and publisher in a times when most botanical artist were only employed to "draw plates." The Botanist's Repository were his first publication. The series was published in London in ten volumes between 1797 and 1812 and provided affordable images of plants to the growing population of amateur gardeners in Britain. Andrews images have a more artistic appeal compared to the more scientific presentation of rival publications. Decorative and colorful, Andrews' prints are a lovely representation of early nineteenth century botanical illustration and this volume is an excellent example of his work.
Despite missing one plate and two leaves, which seems to have been caused by carelessness by the original binder, perhaps due to this being a third edition, this little book is a gem. The first edition of this book was published in 1788--the same year that Jean Jacques Rousseau's Letters on the Elements of Botany was first translated into English. Thus, here is an early English book that attempts to explain the Linnean system to the British world. Martyn never finished his studies and turned them over to others, but his was early and contained beautiful plates engraved by Frederick Polydore Nodder. The latter artist/engraver went on to produce plates for his monumental Naturalist's Miscellaney and the plates for Cook third voyage. While it is natural that stamen and pistols predominate some of the more spectacular plates are of the iris, the passion flower, the sweet pea, and the cannabis. $475
John and Thomas Doughty. Cabinet of Natural History and American Rural Sports with Illustrations. 3 quarto volumes. Philadelphia: J. & T. Doughty, 1830 (1832, 1833). Three engraved pictorial title pages, engraved frontispiece portraits of William Bartram and Charles Willson Peale, 52 of 53 hand colored plates, two uncolored engraved plates, one full-page woodcut plate and 17 woodcuts among the text pages. In volume one pages 169-72 come after page 132. Plates on superior paper are generally excellent and with new tissue guards; text variously spotted and brown as with all copies that we have seen. A few text leaves torn or repaired. Blue paper wrappers for the four parts of the last volume are bound into the end and include a list of agents. Half calf bindings with gold stamping on spine. A fine and scarce set. Bennett, 35; Howes, 433.
Here is one of the great works in American natural history. While Lucien Bonaparte was finishing Alexander Wilson’s American Ornithology, and John James Audubon was beginning his great projects, the Doughty brothers produced a book with many anecdotes about the social impact of natural history and sport in America. Titian Ramsay Peale had returned from the Long expedition and made available new pictures of the animals found in the American west. Other artists included M.E.D. Brown, George Lehman, Edwin Landseer, J.G. Cloney, and the major contributor being Thomas Doughty himself. The single engraving accompanying the 52 lithographs is John Sartain’s print of the “Common Deer”–one of his earliest works done in America. As the production on the third volume began, Thomas Doughty left the project to pursue a painting career in New York. He gained immortality as a founder of the Hudson River School of painters, but he left behind a sinking ship that never reached its goal. The last volume is very scarce, and the struggling nature of the enterprise contributed to the high incidence of all these prints being scattered. Here is a complete set of the text, missing only one plate which will likely eventually surface. $8,400
John Torrey. A Flora of the State of New-York, comprising Full Descriptions of all the Indigenous and Naturalized Plants hitherto Discovered in the State; with Remarks on their Economical and Medicinal Properties. 2 vols. Albany: Carroll and Cook, Printers to the Assembly, 1843. Each volume has an engraved titlepage showing that these volumes are part of a series entitled Natural History of New York, of which these volumes are Part II. Collation: I: 3ll., [i]-xii, 1-484, 72 plates; II: 3ll., 1-572, 88 plates. Spotting and browning here and there, but mostly fine and bright text and plates. Bound in original publisher's cloth with gold stamping on front covers and spines. Volume one spine damage repaired.
Two lovely volumes from a series of New York State studies on natural resources to promote the economy of the state. The author is Dr. John Torrey (1796-1873) who was one of the most distinguished American botanists of his age. Torreya, an ornamental evergreen tree, is named for him.
These volumes contain 160 lovely hand colored lithographed plates done by Endicott in New York. The sequence and numbering of plates is irregular, but they collate complete with the list of plates in each volume. A fine set. $900
James Britten. European Ferns. London: Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co., ca. 1880. Chromolithography by Vincent Brooks Day & Son Lith. Large octavo. Green cloth boards with decorative gold stamping. Original decorative end papers. Presentation label on inside front cover: "Exhibition of Works of Pupils of Schools of Design, Colony of Victoria, 1884". 30 bright chromolithographed plates and 108 wood engravings. Corners bumped and worn, front cover slightly shaken; else, very good condition.
A handsome and informative natural history with lovely chromolithographed plates. $575
Insects of New Jersey. N.p., n.d. Anonymous manuscript in ink, watercolor and pencil drawings. Oblong quarto with 43 leaves of drawings plus many blank leaves. Bound in half leather with leather label providing title on marbled boards.
A beautiful presentation combining scientific accuracy with exquisite fancy. The viewer is left with an ardent desire to discover the artist who created such wonderful watercolor paintings of butterflies, moths, and other insects. This volume was purchased by the present owner from the late Elizabeth Woodburn, of New Jersey, who was the foremost American book dealer in botanical and garden books of her day. $6,000
©The Philadelphia Print Shop, Ltd. Last updated March 11, 2008
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