Flora Graeca
.jpg) 'Hellebore officinalis' Plate 6 from volume 1 | |
| Author | John Sibthorp, Smith |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Ferdinand Bauer, et al |
| Series | 10 volumes |
| Subject | A Flora |
Publication date | 1806 to 1840 |
| Publication place | England |
| Media type | Volumes with plates |
Flora Graeca was a publication of the plants of Greece in the late eighteenth century, resulting from a survey by John Sibthorp and Ferdinand Bauer. The botanical descriptions and illustrations were to become highly valued by the english audience, the finely crafted and illustrated work was of both scientific and horticultural interest.
Sibthorp met the botanical illustrator Bauer in Vienna, where he had made a voyage to study a copy of Dioscorides early botanical work. This was the first part of a journey, to identify medicinal plants used in Greece; Bauer was to join the expedition as the illustrator. They were to record and collect a large number of novel specimens, their publication introduced these to an english audience. From March 1786 to December 1787 they surveyed the plants and animals of the eastern mediterranean, Sibthorp collecting and describing, Bauer making dried specimens and producing colour coded sketches. Bauers work, including around a thousand intricate and annotated sketches, is now regarded as one of the finest examples of botanical illustration.
Sibthorp's volumes were to become a botanical publication, the intention to produce a herbal or medical volume was transformed into a scientific survey. An accompanying volume, Fauna Graeca, and other planned works on the region, was not realised.
Sibthorp assembled the descriptions and plates, his death in 1796 included an endowment to see the book published. The task of preparing the works was undertaken by James Edward Smith, who issued the two volumes of the Prodromus in 1806 and 1813, and six volumes of the Flora Graeca between 1806 and 1828. The seventh appeared in 1830, after Smith's death, and the remaining three were produced by John Lindley between 1833 and 1840.
The cost in 1830 was 620 pounds. The scarcity of the early first editions led to doubt of their existence, the rare book is at the higher end of trade. The inherent value has led the Oxford University Library to make available a digital scan of the complete set.
The publication was during a period of increasing interest in horticulture and highly desired exotic species were described, many would become perennials of the english flower garden.
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References
Hu Walsh (October 23, 2003). "Ferdinand Lukas Bauer". Rare books. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2007-08-17. production costs were excessive so only a limited number of volumes saw the light of day. Yet Stearn [Endeavour] (7:34), ranks Flora Gracea as a masterpiece of printing, engraving, color and design, and notes, "...it is the most costly and beautiful book devoted to any flora."
Further reading
Harris, Stephen. The Magnificent Flora Graeca; How the Mediterranean Came to the English Garden. pp. 200 pages. ISBN 9781851243068. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |origmonth=, |month=, |chapterurl=, and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |origdate= ignored (|orig-date= suggested) (help)
External links
Oxford's Flora Graeca Complete series of printed volumes with illustrations produced by an Oxford University library project.