Beschreibung:

BATEMAN, James (1811-1897). The Orchidaceae of Mexico and Guatemala. London: J. Ridgway & Sons for the author, [1837]-1843. Large 2° (728 x 540mm). 1p. subscriber's list, addenda & corrigenda slip pasted on rear free endpaper. Lithographic pictorial title, 40 FINE HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, drawn on stone by P. Gauci after Miss S.A. Drake (16), Mrs. Augusta Withers (21), Miss Jane Edwards (1), Samuel Holden (1) and one unsigned, 33 printed by Gauci, one uncoloured plan of "epiphyte-houses" and 38 wood-engraved vignettes, two by George Cruikshank (Margins of plates lightly soiled, 12 plates with light spotting, title and last leaf creased vertically and laid-down, 25mm repaired tear to outer blank margin of plate 35, text leaf to plate 22 with repaired tear to lower blank margin.) Contemporary red half morocco gilt, the spine decoration including a capital S surmounted by an Earl's coronet, g.e. (extremities worn, covers somewhat soiled). RARE. ONE OF 125 COPIES of "..probably the finest, and certainly the largest, botanical book ever produced with lithographic plates... In size and splendour, Bateman's giant folio eclipses the works of all who went before or came after him. Gauci... was a true master of th process: his tone ranges from the palest of silvery greys to the richest velvet black; his outline is never mechanical or obtrusive; and the hand-colouring -- whoever may be responsible for it -- is executed with consummate skill." (W.Blunt. The Art of Botanical Illustration , London:1950, pp.214-215). Stafleu and Cowan 342; Nissen BBI 89; Great Flower Books p.48.