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Flowering Crinum Plant: A 19th Century Hand-colored Engraving by Curtis

Creator: William Curtis
Offered by: Timeless Intaglio – Rare Prints, Maps & Books

Description
This early 19th century hand-colored double fold-out botanical engraving is entitled "Crinum Speciosum" (Specious-flowered Crinum), plate 2217, published in London in 1822 in William Curtis’s 'The Botanical Magazine, or Flower-Garden Displayed'. This beautiful colorful and detailed botanical engraving has two vertical folds, as issued. There is slight irregularity of the right edge of the sheet where it had been bound in the journal. There are two very small and faint spots in the print and one in the lower margin and minimal focal discoloration in the upper margin, but it is otherwise in excellent condition. The original English descriptive pages from the publication are included.

William Curtis (1746-1799) was an English botanist and entomologist. His first career was as an apothecary, but subsequently focussed on natural history. He became an author in his mid twenties, publishing a treatise on collecting and preserving insects. He worked as at the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1771 to 1777, but then established his own London Botanic Garden in 1779. He began publishing 'The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed' an illustrated botanical publication, in 1787. It has become the longest published botanical magazine in history, still published currently. William Curtis was precise in his approach to the research and illustration of plants for the journal. Each illustration is done with attention to detail and color, using copperplate engraving and etching techniques and hand-coloring with watercolor paints. Each print is accompanied by an extensive textual description of the plant, including its scientific features.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Period:	19th Century
Condition:	Good.
Creation Date:	1822
Styles / Movements:	Traditional
Incollect Reference #:	585087

Dimensions

W.	11.5 in;	H.	9 in;
W.	29.21 cm;	H.	22.86 cm;

Message from Seller:

Timeless Intaglio is an online gallery of rare and collectable antiquarian prints, maps and books. Although we specialize in all forms of vintage printed works on paper, the majority were created with the intaglio method of transferring ink from a plate, usually copper, to paper with a technique utilizing pressure generated by a press. Email us directly: rbreiman@timelessintaglio.com