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Caryophyllaceae - Cerastium glomeratum
- Cerastium vulgatum From: Flora batava by Jan Kops and others. Amsterdam, J.C. Sepp, 1822, volume 4 (plate 259). Hand-coloured engraving (uncut, unpressed sheet 243 x 303 mm). Text enclosed. € 70
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. 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. This plate is in the most desirable large 4to format.* Pritzel 4822; Jackson p. 324; Nissen BBI 2247; Great flower books p. 63; Landwehr 60; Stafleu & Cowan 3874; Johnston 663; A hundred highlights from the Koninklijke Bibliotheek 70. www.meemelink.com · index · Caryophyllaceae |