William Sutcliffe, (19th-century) A Collection of English Plants, Drawn and Colored by William Sutcliffe.
William Sutcliffe (19th-century)
A Collection of English Plants, Drawn and Colored by William Sutcliffe.
[N.p.: n.d. England, c. 1800]., 1800
6 volumes (of 8, comprising vols. 1,2,5-8). 8vo (10 2/8 x 7 inches). Manuscript title-pages to each volume, manuscript indexes at end of each volume, explanation of abbreviations to end of volume 8. 360 original graphite and watercolor drawings depicting various plants each accompanied by a numbered manuscript description (leaf before title-page of first volume excised, minimal spotting). Contemporary green straight grained morocco, covers ruled in gilt, spines ruled and lettered in gilt, all edges gilt (a bit rubbed).
Provenance: Early ink library stamp of I & E Foster, Bankside, at the head of the title-page of volume one and occasionally throughout, one dated 1825; Auction sale (possibly Sotheby’s, 1/11/73, lot 167).
AN ACCOMPLISHED SERIES OF ALBUMS WITH OVER 350 FINE ORIGINAL WATERCOLORS. Although little is known about William Sutcliffe, the present manuscript makes reference to important herbals and plant books from the 16th to the late 18th century suggesting Sutcliffe had access to a fine library. The latest entry in the bibliography is Curtis’ ‘Catalogue of British, Medicinal, Culinary and Agricultural Plants’ from 1783, suggesting an even earlier date for this work. The 360 watercolors in this work resemble those in the herbals of Elizabeth Blackwell, and the work remains in un-restored condition in contemporary green morocco bindings. sia.
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