Scrophulariaceae -
Veronica triphyllos.
From: Flora batava by Jan Kops and others.
Amsterdam, J.C. Sepp, 1807, volume 2, plate 101. Hand-coloured engraving (sheet 225 x 278 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. Most plates in the first 3 volumes were illustrated by Georg Jacob
Johann van Os. He was born in 1782 in The Hague and settled in Paris in 1826,
where he worked for the Sèvres porcelain factory and was a painter of flower and
fruit pieces, still lifes, etc. These early, finely engraved plates are
exquisitely coloured by hand. Each plate is accompanied by a text in Dutch and
French. The first publisher, J.C. Sepp en Zoon, was renowned for its scientific
colour-plate books. The work was issued in 8vo and 4to. This plate is in the
most desirable 4to format. * Pritzel 4822; Jackson p. 324; Nissen BBI 2247;
Great flower books p. 63; Landwehr 60; Stafleu & Cowan 3874; Sam Segal:
Flowers and nature pp. 250-251 (Georgius Jacobus Johannes van Os); Johnston
663; A hundred highlights from the koninklijke Bibliotheek 70.
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Scrophulariaceae -
Veronica urticaefolia.
From: La flore et la pomone françaises, ou histoire et figures en couleur, des fleurs et
des fruits de France ou naturalisés sur le sol français by Jean Henri Jaume Saint-Hilaire.
Paris, the author, 1831, volume 4, plate 345. Unsigned stipple-engraving in colour by Jean Henri Jaume Saint-Hilaire finished by hand
(uncut and unbound sheet 175 x 265). Text enclosed in photocopy.€ 70
Very rare work, which was published in parts from 1828-1833 in 6 volumes by the
French botanist and artist Jaume Saint-Hilaire (1772-1845). It was planned to
issue 800 plates but the regular publication was terminated with plate 544.
Among those who worked under van Spaëndonck or Redouté, or who based their
style on the pure water-colour technique which Redouté learned from his master,
may be mentioned Turpin, Poiteau, Bessa, Mme Vincent (b. 1786),
Jaume-Saint-Hilaire, Chazal and Prêtre. Most of these artists were the equals of
Redouté in technical skill, and given his opportunities might have won the same
renown. … Jaume-Saint-Hilaire was no less distinguished as a botanist, and his
introduction into France of Polygonum tinctorum, which yields a valuable
blue dye, was of considerable importance (Blunt).
* Pritzel 4404; Dunthorne 160; Blunt pp. 180, 182; Nissen BBI 988; Great flower books p. 61; Stafleu & Cowan 3311; Johnston 943.
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