NEW CONDITION AND STILL SEALED (pictures provided from personal copy) This encyclopedia of orchids comprises 5 volumes, 2,300 pages and 813 four-color plates. This is the first reprint of the work written in the 19th century (1885-1906) by Jean-Jules Linden and published at the time as a monthly review. Each plate is accompanied by a text giving the Latin diagnose (determination of the characteristics specific to a given species, enabling it to be identified), bibliographical references, and a description of the plant, where it was discovered, harvested, acclimatized and distributed throughout the world. The exceptionally delicate drawings depict species harvested in tropical forests and cultivated in the greenhouses of leading European collectors. vol. 1, 1885-1888 ; vol. 2, 1888-1891 ; vol. 3, 1891-1894 ; vol. 4, 1894-1898 ; vol. 5, 1898-1906 The monumental work in the history of literature on orchids was printed in Belgium by the Lindens in the form of a monthly review between 1885 and 1906 in French and also between 1891 and 1898 in English. This was the “Belle Epoque“ for orchis enthousiasts. The 814 plates contained are more than a mere record of all that was known about botanical orchids - they form a veritable encyclopaedia. The drawings are of exceptional quality and delicaty, depicting species gathered in tropical forests and raised in the greenhouses of great collectors. Each plate is accompanied by Latin assignment of the species together with bibliographical references. There follows a description of the plant, where it was dicsovered, acclimatized, distributed throughout the world and advices on how to grow it. Bound in 5 volumes with a gold-stamped cloth binding and a colour cover this item is a collector's object for both, orchid and book art enthousiasts. Weight 12 kilos Registered and insured shipping via UPS Outside Europe : UPS ONLY Customs and import charges are the responsibility of the buyer outside the EU Carefully packaged and with tracking Livraison soignée avec suivi