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Full title:
FLORA LONDINENSIS: OR PLATES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF SUCH PLANTS AS GROW WILD IN THE ENVIRONS OF LONDON: WITH Their Places of Growth, and Times of Flowering; their several Names according to Linnaeus and other Authors: with A particular Description of each Plant in LATIN and ENGLISH.
To which are Added, Their several Uses in Medicine, Agriculture, Rural Oeconomy, and other Arts.

by William Curtis,
DEMONSTRATOR of BOTANY to the Company of APOTHECARIES

LONDON: Printed and Sold by the Author, No. 51 Gracechurch-Street: and B. White, Bookseller, in Fleet-Street
MDCCLXXVII

Original 245+-year-old hand-colored copperplate engravings from William Curtis's "Flora Londinensis" published in 1777

William Curtis holding his famous book, Flora Londinensis (1777-98).
A portrait attributed to Joseph Wright of Derby.

William Curtis, a Quaker, was eager to share his horticultural knowledge with others; when a projected course of lectures at Chelsea did not materialize, he arranged one of his own, on botany and horticulture, in the new garden which he had made for himself in "Lambeth Marsh."  Here he also cultivated some six thousand species of plants. But his prime interest was in the British flora, especially in such flowers as grew in the neighborhood of London. With the support of Lord Bute, he embarked on his first ambitious project, the Flora Londinensis — a series of coloured folio illustrations and descriptions of the plants which grew within a radius of ten miles of the metropolis.

The first part of Flora Londinensis appeared in 1777, and in the same year Curtis, overburdened with work, resigned his post at Chelsea. For ten years he continued perseveringly at his congenial but unremenerative task; by 1787, the results of his labours were two splendid folio volumes and a deficit which made the continuance of his venture impossible. He understood the cause of the trouble and saw the remedy: if his clients refused to buy folio pictures of the unassuming plants that grew by the wayside, he would win their patronage with octavo engravings of the bright exotics which filled their gardens. Thus, in 1787, the Botanical Magazine was born. As Curtis himself said, it brought him "pudding" whereas Flora Londinensis had only brought him praise.

Darvill's collection of fine Curtis botanicals includes both "Flora Londinensis" and the "Botanical Magazine"
Hand-coloured engravings. Sheet size is approx. 11 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches. Plate/Image sizes vary (noted below each thumbnail).
Each print is accompanied by the original descriptive text page(s) in both Latin and English, unless otherwise indicated.
PLEASE CLICK ON A THUMBNAILS FOR A PHOTO OF THE ENTIRE SHEET
Adoxa Moschatellina (Tuberous Moschatel)
Plate 137

Adoxa Moschatellina
(Tuberous Moschatel)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 x 7 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

Agaricus glutinosus
Plate 194

Agaricus glutinosus
(Slimy Mushroom)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 8 3/4 x 11 1/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
Aira praecox (Hair Grass)
Plate 146

Aira praecox
(Early Hair-Grass)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 4 3/8 x 6 1/4 inches

Note that the entire sheet is too large to scan, so the margins appear cut off in the provided enlarements, but are full as issued.

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Common Chickweed)
Alsine media
(Common Chickweed)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 14 1/4 x 8 1/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Sharp-pointed Fluellin)
Antirrhinum Elatine
(Sharp-pointed Fluellin)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 11 x 9 1/4 inches
NOTE NARROW RIGHT MARGIN

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
toad flax
Antirrhinum Linaria
(Common Yellow Toad Flax)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 6 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
least toad flax

Plate 296

Antirrhinum minus
(The Least Toad Flax)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 4 3/4 x 10 1/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Round-leaved Fluellin)

Plate 205

Antirrhinum spurium
(Round-leaved Fluellin)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 14 3/4 x 9 1/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Podded Mouse-ear)

Arabis Thaliana
(Podded Mouse-ear)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 8 x 10 1/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

(Nodding Water-hemp Agimony)

Plate 192

Bidens cernua
(Nodding Water-hemp Agimony)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 3/8 x 17 1/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Wild Rocket)

Plate 158

Brasica muralis
(Wild Rocket)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Hairy-stalked Brome-Grass)

Plate 105

Bromus hirsutus
(Hairy-stalked Brome-Grass)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 1/4 x 17 1/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
silver bryum, matted bryum

Plate 166

Bryum Argenteum
(Silver Bryum)

Bryum Caespiticium
(Matted Bryum)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 1/4 x 7 3/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

bearded bryum

Plate 274

Bryum barbatum
(Bearded Bryum)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 3/4 x 7 inches
NOTE LIGHT TEXT OFFSETTING, AGE TONING OF PAPER, FAINT FOXING

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
Swan's Neck Bryum

Bryum hornum
(Swans-neck Bryum)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 x 7 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
BROOM BRYUM

Bryum Scoparium
(Broom Bryum)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 x 7 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Awl-shaped Bryum)

Bryum subulatum
(Awl-shaped Bryum)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 x 6 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
GREEN AND BROWN BRYUM

Plate 132

Bryum viridulum
(Green Bryum)

Bryum Truncatulum
(Brown Bryum)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
CURLED BRYUM

Bryum undulatum
(Curled Bryum)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 x 7 /12 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
BASTARD PIMPERNEL

Plate 185

Centunculus minimus
(Bastard Pimpernel)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 3 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches
NOTE LIGHT TEXT OFFSETTING

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Marsh Ceratium or MOUSE EAR CHICKWEED

Cerastium aquaticum
(Marsh Ceratium or
Mouse-ear Chickweed)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 3/4 x 12 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Least Mouse-ear Chickweed)

Plate 122

Cerastium semidecandrum
(Least Mouse-ear Chickweed)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 6 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

(Mouse-ear Chickweed)

Cerastium tetrandrum
(Mouse-ear Chickweed)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches
NOTE ORIGINAL WATERCOLOUR PAINT SMEAR
AT LOWER PLATE MARK

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Broad-leaved Mouse-ear Chickweed)

Cerastium viscosum
(Broad-leaved Mouse-ear Chickweed)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 7 3/4 x 9 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Common Mouse-ear Chickweed)

Plate 130

Cerastium vulgatum
(Common Mouse-ear Chickweed)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 12 1/4 x 8 3/4 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
GOOD KING HENRY

Plate 184

Chenopodium bonus Henricus
(Good King Henry)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 1/2 x 16 3/4 inches
NOTE LIGHT TEXT OFFSETTING AND AGE TONING

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Stinking Blite, or Orach)

Chenopodium olidum
(Stinking Blite, or Orach)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Purple-jointed Goosefoot)

Plate 103

Chenopodium viride
(Purple-jointed Goosefoot)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 8 x 15 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
COMMON GOLDEN SAXIFRAGE

Plate 138

Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
(Common Golden Saxifrage)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 x 8 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Spotted-flowered Cistus)

Cistus guttatus
(Spotted-flowered Cistus)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 6 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Vernal Draba or Whitlow Grass)

Draba verna
(Vernal Draba or Whitlow Grass)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Wood Willow-herb)

Plate 195

Epilobium montanum
(Wood Willow-herb)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 6 x 16 1/2inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Purple Erigeron)

Erigeron acre
(Purple Erigeron)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 6 x 17 1/2inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Rough-podded Tine-Tare)

Ervum hirsutum
(Rough-podded Tine-Tare)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 8 3/4 x 17 1/2 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Smooth-podded Tine Tare)
Ervum tetraspermum
(Smooth-podded Tine Tare)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 1/4 x 17 3/4 inches
NOTE NARROW MARGINS
DUE TO LARGE SIZE OF IMAGE

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
(Sauce-alone)
Plate 144

Erysimum alliarria
(Sauce-alone)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 1/2 x 14 1/4 inches
NOTE LIGHT TEXT OFFSETTING

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777

$249.95
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