HOOKER, William Jackson, Sir (1785-1865). Exotic Flora. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1823-1827.
HOOKER, William Jackson, Sir (1785-1865). Exotic Flora. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1823-1827.
First edition with fine hand-coloured engraved plates after drawings by Hooker, R.K. Greville, L. Guilding, J. Lindley, and others. Hooker was editor of Curtis's Botanical Magazine and, in 1841, he was appointed the first full-time director of Kew Gardens. Thanks to Hooker, ‘useful new plants were propagated and sent to the botanical gardens overseas where they were most likely to flourish, and many became regular crops. One of the most important was the transfer of Cinchona plants to India in 1859–60 at the request of the India Office, as a remedy for malaria. Hooker also established contacts outside the colonies, notably in Japan… Kew became the botanical arm of the Foreign Office and was always consulted when questions arose about plants, new crops, forestry, and useful natural products' (ODNB). Dunthorne 140; Great Flower Books (1990) p.103; Nissen BBI 920; Stafleu & Cowan 2993.
3 volumes, octavo (245 x 160mm). Half-title in vol. II, 233 hand-coloured engraved plates, of which 49 folding and 13 double-page, index in each volume (lacking half-titles in vols. I and III, very occasional light spotting). Slightly later green half morocco (spines fractionally faded). Provenance: Frederick du Cane Godman (bookplates).
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HOOKER, William Jackson, Sir (1785-1865). Exotic Flora. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1823-1827.
First edition with fine hand-coloured engraved plates after drawings by Hooker, R.K. Greville, L. Guilding, J. Lindley, and others. Hooker was editor of Curtis's Botanical Magazine and, in 1841, he was appointed the first full-time director of Kew Gardens. Thanks to Hooker, ‘useful new plants were propagated and sent to the botanical gardens overseas where they were most likely to flourish, and many became regular crops. One of the most important was the transfer of Cinchona plants to India in 1859–60 at the request of the India Office, as a remedy for malaria. Hooker also established contacts outside the colonies, notably in Japan… Kew became the botanical arm of the Foreign Office and was always consulted when questions arose about plants, new crops, forestry, and useful natural products' (ODNB). Dunthorne 140; Great Flower Books (1990) p.103; Nissen BBI 920; Stafleu & Cowan 2993.
3 volumes, octavo (245 x 160mm). Half-title in vol. II, 233 hand-coloured engraved plates, of which 49 folding and 13 double-page, index in each volume (lacking half-titles in vols. I and III, very occasional light spotting). Slightly later green half morocco (spines fractionally faded). Provenance: Frederick du Cane Godman (bookplates).
Special Notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
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