| Rosaceae - Rubus caesius From: Flora batava by Jan Kops and others. Amsterdam, J.C. Sepp, 1822, volume 4 (plate 288). Hand-coloured engraving (unpressed sheet 237 x 293 mm). Text enclosed. € 90
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 · Rosaceae |