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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 THUMBNAIL FOR A PHOTO OF THE ENTIRE PLATE
(Small Spurge)
 

Plate 245

Euphorbia exigua
(Small Spurge)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 1/4 x 9 inches

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

$249.95
(Common Eyebright)
Euphrasia officinalus
(Common Eyebright)

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
(Small Garden Spurge)
Euphorbia Peplus
(Small Garden Spurge)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 7 x 13 1/4 inches

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

$249.95
(Flote Fescue Grass)
Festuca fluitans
(Flote Fescue Grass)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 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
(Common Fumitory)
Plate 112

Fumaria officinalis
(Common Fumitory)

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

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

$249.95
(Cleavers or Goose Grass)
Galium aparine
(Cleavers or Goose Grass)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 1/4 x 15 1/4 inches

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

$249.95
FIR HYDNUM
Plate 190

Hydnum auriscalpium
(Fir Hydnum)

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

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

$249.95
(Trailing St. John's Wort)
Plate 162

Hypericum humifusum
(Trailing St. John's Wort)

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

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

$249.95
Hypericum Perforatum (Common St. John's Wort)
Hypericum Perforatum
(Common St. John's Wort)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 1/4 x 17 3/4 inches
NOTE LACK OF TOP MARGIN AND NARROW BOTTOM MARGIN DUE TO LARGE SIZE OF IMAGE, AS ISSUED

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

(Small upright St. John's Wort)
Hypericum pulchrum
(Small upright St. John's Wort)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 1/4 x 17 3/4 inches
NOTE LACK OF TOP MARGIN AND NARROW BOTTOM MARGIN DUE TO LARGE SIZE OF IMAGE, AS ISSUED

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

$249.95
(Proliferous Hypnum)
Hypnum Proliferum
(Proliferous Hypnum)

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
(Silky Hypnum)
Plate 126

Hypnum sericeum
(Silky Hypnum)

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

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

$249.95
(Small Fleabane)
Plate 156

Inula Pulicaria
(Small Fleabane)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 6 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches

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

$249.95
(Flat Jungermannia)
Plate 271

Jungermannia complanata
(Flat Jungermannia)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 6 x 7 inches
NOTE THE DISCOLORATION WHERE A LAYER OF SOME SUBSTANCE WAS BRUSHED OVER IMAGE

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

$40
(White Dead-Nettle)
Plate 115

Lamium album
(White Dead-Nettle)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 1/4 x 14 1/4 inches

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

$249.95
NIPPLEWORT
Lapsana communis
(Nipplewort)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 8 1/4 x 17 1/2 inches
NOTE LACK OF LOWER MARGIN DUE TO LARGE SIZE OF IMAGE, AS ISSUED

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

$249.95
(Purging Flax)
Plate 151

Linum catharticum
(Purging Flax)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 6 x 10 inches

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

$249.95
(Field, or Small Wild Bugloss)
Plate 336

Lycopsis Arvensis
(Field, or Small Wild Bugloss)

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

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

$249.95
(Wood Moneywort, or Loosestrife)
Lysinachia Nemorum
(Wood Moneywort, or Loosestrife)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 1/4 x 10 3/4 inches

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

$249.95
HOP MEDICK
Plate 120

Medicago lupulina
(Hop Medick)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 13 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
HEART MEDICK
Plate 176

Medicago polymorpha
(Heart Medick, or Claver)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 12 1/2 x 9 inches
NOTE LIGHT TEXT OFFSETTING

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

$249.95
DOGS MERCURY
Mercurialis perennis
(Dogs Mercury)

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

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

$249.95
BLINKS
Plate 188

Montia fontana
(Blinks)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches
NOTE FOX MARKS

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

$249.95
COTTON THISTLE
Onopordum acanthium
(Cotton Thistle)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 1/4 x 17 1/2 inches

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

$249.95
TWAYBLADE
Plate 177

Ophrys ovata
(Twayblade)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 1/4 x 17 1/2 inches
NOTE FAINT TEXT OFFSETTING/DISCOLORATION

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

$249.95
LADIES TRACES
Plate 270

Ophrys spiralis
(Ladies Traces)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 4 3/8 x 8 1/2 inches
NOTE DISCOLORATION DUE TO SOME SUBSTANCE BEING BRUSHED OVER IMAGE AREA

Original text page(s) included
[Field Poppy]
Plate 297

Papaver dubium
[Field Poppy]

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 1/4 x 15 3/4 inches
NOTE FAINT TEXT OFFSETTING/DISCOLORATION,
TEAR IN LEFT MARGIN OUTSIDE OF IMAGE AREA

Original text page(s) are not available for this plate
$249.95
PELLITORY OF THE WALL
Plate 233

Parietaria officinalis
(Pellitory of the Wall)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 1/4 x 17 inches
NOTE FAINT TEXT OFFSETTING/DISCOLORATION
AND A COUPLE OF FOX MARKS

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777
$249.95
OX TONGUE
Plate 150

Pecris echioides
(Ox-Tongue)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 x 17 1/4 inches
NOTE A COUPLE OF UNOBTRUSIVE FOX MARKS

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777
$249.95
Phallus caninus (Red-headed Morell)
Plate 235

Phallus caninus
(Red-headed Morell)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 5 x 9 inches
NOTE LIGHT BROWNING

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777
$249.95
Phallus impudicus (Stinking Morell)
Plate 199

Phallus impudicus
(Stinking Morell)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 1/2 x 17 inches
NOTE LIGHT BROWNING AND SMALL PAPER LOSS EXTREME UPPER RIGHT CORNER

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777
$249.95
Plantago Major
Plantago Major
(Common Plantain)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 9 1/4 x 15 inches

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777
$249.95
HARD MEADOWGRASS
Plate 142

Poa rigida
(Hard Meadow-Grass)

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

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777
$249.95
(Birds Polygonum or Knot-Grass)
Polygonum aviculare
(Birds Polygonum or Knot-Grass)

Image size, measured at plate mark:
approx. 10 1/4 x 9 3/4 inches
NOTE FAINT FOXING

Original text page(s) included along with copy of title page/frontispiece to Flora Londinensis from 1777
click to go the first page of Flora Londinensis prints by William Curtis              click to go to next page of Curtis's Flora Londinensis prints
Thousands of Original Antique and Vintage Botanical Prints