A beatuiful copy of ”Svensk botanik”, with 774 hand-coloured plates

J. W. Palmstruch, m. fl.:

Svensk botanik. 1-11.

Stockholm & Uppsala 1802-1843. 8vo. (22 x 14 cms.) Complete with 774 hand-coloured engraved plates, 9 of which are folding or double-page (nos 505, 596, 614, 621, 633, 681, 697, 720, 736).

With a leaf of text for each plate (2 leaves for plate 757). Additionally with title and index for each volume as follows: iv + xi + 13; + ii + xxiii + 15; + ii + xiv + 12; + ii + x + 10; + ii + x + 12; + ii + viii + iv + 8; + ii + 8; + ii + 8; + ii + 10; + ii + 8; + ii + 26 pp. (main index, printed in 1843, incl. yellow printed wrappers).

11 volumes. Beautifully bound by the Hedberg bindery in full green morocco, gilt spines, sides with outer gilt border, board edges gilt, inner dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled endleaves. Worn slipcases. Spines a little faded, some very slight occasional foxing and a few small stains, two plates in vol. 3 (nos. 151, 157) with near-contemporary signature in ink on verso (Anders Högfeldt), one plate in vol. 5 (301) with insignificant ink marking on verso, one plate in vol 6 (421) with a stain on verso. With a few of the printed wrappers bound in (in vols. 3, 9, 10 and 11).

First edition of the first Swedish colour-plate book on flowers, with Flora Danica and Sowerby's English Botany as models. It is rarely found complete (as here), as a fire in the printing house destroyed most of the stock of volume 11.

Lindberg, Swedish Books, 55 (”One of the most beautiful of Swedish books”). Krok, Svensk botanisk litteratur, pp. 98-100. Nissen, Die botanische Buchillustration, 2223. Dal, Med kolorerade figurer. Handkolorering i Sverige under 1700- och 1800 -talen, pp. 277-83.

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