Carex Acuta - Stender-Spiked Carex - ORIGINAL HAND-COLOURED COPPER ENGRAVING - From: English botany; or, coloured figures of British plants by James Edward Smith. - Plate No. 1386 / 1260

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Plate dated Nov. 1, 1804; but the double enumeration indicates that it is taken from the second edition of 1831ff. Plate mark at bottom: Published by J.s Sowerby. A fine original (partly) hand-coloured copper engraving, paper size approx. 12 x 21 cm. Colours are good and bright, paper bright and clean but cut narrowly at top and tail, (supplied without accompanying text, and without mount). +++ This item is part of a rare collection of 42 engravings from this edition. If you want more information please use the "Ask Bookseller a question" button and I'll be pleased to help. +++ The first edition was printed in 1790-1814. There is a "Supplement", 1831-49, 4 vol., the latter with plates by J. de C. Sowerby and J. W. Salter and regarded as vol. 37- 40 of the main work. "One of the most celebrated of all British floras is Sowerby's English botany. This periodical publication, issued in 267 numbers, and published in thirty-six volumes between 1790 and 1814, contains 2.592 beautifully coloured illustrations of plants most of which are drawn and engraved by James Sowerby." (Henrey II p. 141). The plates of the second or small edition of 12 volumes are mostly restrikes of the plates of the first edition, arranged in sytematic order and including supplementary plates. These plates thus bear a double enumeration and are often not so fully coloured as those of the first edition. References: Nissen BBI 2225; Great flower books p. 76; Henrey 1369; Stafleu & Cowan 12.221. (Please Note: I do not break books for plates. My plates have all been purchased loose.). Seller Inventory # 008467

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