Beschreibung:

LINDLEY, John (1799-1865). Sertum Orchidaceum: a wreath of the most beautiful Orchidaceous flowers . London: James Ridgway and Sons, [1837-] 1838 [-1841].
LINDLEY, John (1799-1865). Sertum Orchidaceum: a wreath of the most beautiful Orchidaceous flowers . London: James Ridgway and Sons, [1837-] 1838 [-1841]. Large 2° (545 x 357mm). Hand-coloured lithographic frontispiece, dedication to the Duke of Devonshire, 49 hand-coloured lithographic plates by M. Gauci after Miss Drake, Descourtilz, W. Griffith, Miss M.A. Mearns, Schouten and R.H. Schomburgk. (Some light spotting throughout, plate 10 with repair to verso at top margin, crease to title-page.) Contemporary half morocco, gilt decorative spine, marbled endpapers and edges (extremities lightly rubbed, covers lightly scuffed). FIRST EDITION OF LINDLEY'S LARGE AND AMBITIOUS MONOGRAPH ON ORCHIDS, issued in 10 fascicules between September 1837 and December 1841. Lindley strove for clarity and accuracy in both text and illustrations, and the present work clearly demonstrates the effective use of developments in printing technology and design. Lindley's own collection of orchids is preserved at Kew. Great Flower Books (1990), p.114; Nissen BBI 1205.