Beschreibung:

JACQUIN, Nikolaus Joseph (1727-1817, Baron von). Icones Plantarum Rariorum. Vienna: printed for C. F. Wappler, B. White & Son (of London), S. & J. Luchtmans (of Leiden) and (vol. I only) A. König (of Strassburg), 1781-1793 [-1795]. 3 volumes, large 2° (468 x 283 mm). 649 FINE HAND-COLOURED ENGRAVED PLATES, 37 FOLDING, BY FRANZ AND FERDINAND BAUER Joseph Hofbauer and Joseph Scharf, and including the bis plate 286. (8 of the folding plates with small clean tears at folds, most neatly repaired, a few margins shaved into the plate area touching the image in one case.) Dark green morocco gilt, covers with wide decorative arabesque border within a series of four triple fillets, the spine in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in two, the others with decorative overall symmetrical pattern composed from various small tools, gilt-ruled turn-ins, marbled endpapers, g.e., by J. Mackenzie 'Bookbinder to the King', (slight split in lower joint of vol. II). FIRST EDITION AND A FINE COMPLETE COPY. This work was composed as a supplement to the Hortus Vindobonensis and Flora Austriacae above (lots 68 and 69). All the plants are drawn life-size. Amongst Jacquin's canon of works the Icones is notable as being the only one to contain plates by the Bauers. Jacquin 'recognized the talent of the two brothers and employed first Ferdinand, and later Franz. . . From Jacquin or Boccius or both they learned that botanical draughtsmanship demands understanding of the plant figured, even down to minute detail, as well as its portrayal with accuracy and grace . . . Under such supervision they became accustomed to precise observation and developed superb techniques of drawing and colouring. Jacquin himself was an able botanical artist but his teaching and and administrative duties gave him no time for illustrating plants except in correspondence with Sir Joseph Banks's librarian Jonas Dryander. Having trained them so well, Jacquin then lost the services of both . . . John Sibthorp took Ferdinand away on his travels. Sir Joseph Banks later induced Franz to settle at Kew as his resident artist.' (J. Stewart & W. T. Stearn. The Orchid Paintings of Franz Bauer . London: 1993, p. 9). This copy was apparently bound by Mackenzie between 1832 and 1837. Two of the blank endpapers are watermarked 1832 and his use of the 'Bookbinder to the King' tag would imply a date of 1837 or earlier. Nissen BBI 974; Great Flower Books p. 61; Dunthorne 153; Junk Rara p. 41; Stafleu and Cowan 3251. (3)