The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed is the longest published botanical magazine. William Curtis was an apothecary and botanist who was employed at the Kew Gardens when he started the magazine. The distribution of beautiful copper engravings showing ornamental and exotic plants proved a format accessible by a wide audience. These illustrations are hand-colored and were complemented with a comprehensive description describing the properties, history, growth characteristics, and some common names for each species. The first volume's illustrations were primarily by Sydenham Edwards, until he left in 1817 to start the rival The Botanical Register. Another renowned botanical artist, James Sowerby, also created a number of plates. When Curtis died in 1800, his friend John Sims continued the publication from 1801 to 1807 (Volumes 15–26) as its editor. William Hooker next continued as editor from 1826, bringing to it his experience as a botanist.

This lot of botanical prints are each dated 1804, 1805 or 1806 and were published in the important Curtis Botanical Magazine. The lot is comprised of original hand colored copper engravings showing (according to hand-written titles) the Large-Flowered Goodenia, Smooth Storax, Knap-week Scalia, Aster Reflexus, Goodia Lotfolia, the Starry Protea, and the Aotus Villosa, to mention a few.

References:

Condition: B+

Generally very good to fine, less one with a light burn from ribbon and another with a short marginal tear outside plate mark. Most have pencil notations at bottom giving common name of flower.