Reichenbachia, Orchids illustrated and described.
London & St Albans: Henry Sotheran & Co and F. Sander & Co. 1888-94 [1895] Stock Code: 122509
The superior edition of the finest book on orchids of its period
Imperial edition, copy 51 of 100 copies signed by Sander. Published during the heyday of the late Victorian orchid mania, Sander was the foremost authority on the Orchidaceae, as well as the largest grower, maintaining nurseries in England, Belgium, and the United States. He had agents gathering plants worldwide, often dangerous work, and he reports in the description of one orchid: "Orchidists are familiar with the names of Wallis, Endrès, Klaboch, Falkenberg, Schröder, Arnold, Douglas, and others, who have died in the cause of botanical science." He named the work in honor of Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach, a natural historian whose province was orchids (Reichenbach's library, drawing and specimens are in the Naturhistorisches Museum of Vienna). The illustrations are largely after the work of Henry George Moon, and these are of great elegance.The colour plates in this Imperial edition are of the same size as those of the regular unlimited edition, but were issued mounted to large sheets of card, and these sets were apparently intended for presentation by Sander. The distinction between these two editions is sometimes overlooked: it is an especially commanding work in this form, and also rare thus.
Description
4 volumes bound as 8, folio (65 x 48 cm). Nineteenth-century green half morocco, dark green cloth sides, gilt edges.
Illustrations
192 fine chromolithographic plates, most finished by hand with gum arabic or added colour, lithographed by Joseph Mansell, G. Leutzsch and J. L. Macfarlane after Henry Moon, W. H. Fitch, A. H. Loch, and C. Storer, occasional wood-engraved illustrations th
Condition
The bindings scuffed with portions of the surface of the leather abraded, generally a very clean set internally, though with some minor discoloration from the mounting adhesive noticeable in the second volumes of the first series. Occasional trivial adhesion marks of the tissues to the plates, though in general this set has far less adhesion than frequently found. The first part of the first volume of the second series a little bumped with resultant creasing of corners of the mounts, with some embrittlement in that area.
DELIVERY
With the exception of framed items*, Peter Harrington offers free delivery on all UK orders of rare books, maps and prints placed through this website. Delivery to USA and the rest of the world is similarly free for orders over £200.
ABOUT US
Established in 1969, Peter Harrington is one of the leading rare book firms in the world. It is a proud member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association – along with ILAB, the PBFA and Lapada – and from shops in Mayfair and Chelsea, London, sells rare books, prints and ephemera to customers across the world.
Email: mail@peterharrington.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7591 0220