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Kops, Jan et al.: Flora batava, of afbeelding en
beschrijving van Nederlandsche gewassen door Jan Kops, … en H.C. van Hall …
Afgebeeld onder opzigt van J.C. Sepp en Zoon. Amsterdam, J.C. Sepp, 1836, volume 7, part 94-109, pp. [i*, engraved title-page], 8 (index), 80 finely hand-coloured engraved plates (no. 481-560) with text-leaves, large 4to, uncut and unpressed (ca. 245 x 305 mm), loose as issued in half roan with marbled boards. Fine condition. € 1.800
The Flora batava, a monumental work forming a beautifully illustrated
survey of all indigenous plants in the Netherlands. It was started in 1800 by
Jan Kops, a Dutch agronomist and professor of botany at Utrecht. The first 10
volumes constitute all that was prepared and issued under his supervision (later
assisted by Herman Christiaan van Hall, Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel and
Johannes Everhardus van der Trappen). When finished at last in 1934, Willem Jan
Lütjeharms was the editor for volume 28, in which he concludes that this work
has ended now and that publication took longer than any comparable foreign
flora: De Flora Batava heeft langer geleefd dan een der met dit werk
vergelijkbare buitenlandsche plaatwerken. The long publication period reflects
the change in the technique of its illustrations. Initially copper-engravings
were used, followed by lithographs, all coloured by hand, but from volume 25
colour-printing was gradually introduced. Also several artists were involved,
but the plates are not signed, nor much information is given about them. The
first publisher, J.C. Sepp en Zoon, was renowned for its scientific colour-plate
books. Each plate is accompanied by a text in Dutch and French. The work was
issued in 8vo and 4to. These plates is in the most desirable 4to format.
* Nissen 2247; Great flower books p. 63; Stafleu & Cowan 3874; Landwehr 60. |