Author: VERSCHAFFELT Ambroise (editor) :
Title: Nouvelle Iconographie des Camellias contenant les Figures et la Description de plus rares, des plus nouvelles et des plus belles variétés de ce genre. (1857).
Description: .: 16. Gand (Gent), chez l'éditeur Ambroise Verschaffelt, Fils, Horticulteur, rue de Chaume, 1857, large in-8°, 25,5 x 17 cm, (6)nn pp + 47 (of 48) colored lithographic plates + 47 (of 48) textleaves. Missing is the plate 4 of issue 4, and the text leaf 3 of issue 4 (Targioni Rosea). Bound in contemporary black half leather, top edge gilt. Joints of binding a bit rubbed but still a fine/good copy with a very clean interior. There are only a few foxing spots on the tissue guards, 2 plates are slightly but evenly browned, all the other plates and textleaves are stainless. This is an attractive copy of one of the rarest Belgian 19th century botanical periodicals with chromolithographic plates. The publication served as an, extremely handsome and beautifully printed, catalogue to the camellia nursery which was run by the Verschaffelt family in 19th-century Ghendt. The camellia flower is very well suited to be illustrated by chromolithography which renders well the strong contrasts between the large red colored flower and its heavy dark green foliage. In all 13 years (or volumes) were published. Complete sets are now virtually impossible to find on the market. (Nissen 2056, Pritzel 9743, catalogue Hortus Belgicus, Royal Library Brussels 1962, item 46).. .

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