Taylor "Gongora atropurpurea." From "The Botanist"

Miss Taylor "Gongora atropurpurea." From Benjamin Maund & John Stevens Henslow’s The Botanist; Containing Accurately Coloured Figures, of Tender and Hardy Ornamental Plants. 

London: R. Groombridge, Edinburgh: W. Whyte & Co. and Dublin: J. Robertson & Co., [1836-] 1842.  Image ca. 7 x 5 1/2.  Lithograph by Nevitt.  Original hand color.  Very good condition.

One of a series of lovely images of ornamental plants based on the work of Benjamin Maund, assisted by J.S. Henslow.  This is one of the more consistently attractive series of botanical illustrations from the mid-nineteenth century, the lithography beautifully enhanced by fine hand color.  The bright images of the flowering plants often have illustrations of petals and such, to add scientific interest.  The workmanship on these lovely prints bespeaks an era when quality of production went hand-in-hand with scientific endeavor.