Maund - The Botanic Garden Vol. VII - 1835

One of the finest English botanical illustrated works of the 19th century, with finely hand-coloured plates of plants and extensive cultural-historical comments.

First edition. Publisher: London, Simpkin, Marshall & Co.; Sherwood & Co., circa 1835. 195 pages with engraved title page and 24 (of 24) coloured copper engravings, half-leather binding of the period, marbled endpapers, marbled edges, 20 x 16 cm.
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Benjamin Maund’s multi-volume The Botanic Garden ranks among the most important botanical illustration works of Victorian England. It combines scientific precision with exceptionally high-quality, hand-coloured plant representations and documents the great flowering of English garden culture in the 19th century. The plates depict both native and newly introduced ornamental plants in meticulous rendering, making the work a sought-after collectible to this day.

Each plant is described in detail in accompanying text. In addition to the botanical classification and origin, Maund discusses the history of introduction into cultivation, habitat requirements, flowering time, care, and horticultural uses. This produced a reference work that was both scientifically sound and practically useful for garden enthusiasts, significantly contributing to the popularization of botanical knowledge.

To this day The Botanic Garden is regarded as one of the most beautiful popular-science plant works of its time. The high-quality coloured plates make the work equally a valued botanical reference as a desirable collection piece for bibliophiles, garden historians, and lovers of historic plant illustrations.

With regal bookplate of the Bradshaigh (Bradshaw) family of Haigh Hall, Lancashire, England (first half of the 19th century), from the library of Baronet Roger Hesketh Bradshaigh (1786–1866)
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Binding slightly rubbed and lightly bumped. Paper overall clean and fresh, only occasionally minor age-related foxing. The hand-coloured plates are in very attractive condition. Overall a decorative and well-preserved copy.