Australian Orchids.

This is a rare or used book from the Berkelouw Rare Books Department.

Sydney (1875-1894). 12 parts (all published) in 2 vols. Large folio. Bound in half oasis with gilt panelled spines in 6 compartments and raised bands. Marbled end-papers. Complete set with 119 full-page litho plates of which all but 8 are delicately hand-coloured incl. 10 double-paged. The lithographs are by A.J. Stopps after drawings by Fitzgerald almost invariably from fresh specimens. Occasional minor restoration to one or two edges otherwise a particularly fine clean set. Pts. 1-7 comprise Vol. 1 whilst Vol. 2 consists of five issues only the last (Vol. 2: Pt. 5) being completed posthumously by Henry Deane in 1894 using Fitzgerald's notes. The work itself has been admired as much for the accuracy of the drawings and quality of the lithography as for its scientific content. Dedicated to Charles Darwin. Desirable in its complete state as one of the rarest orchid books. NOTE: Three (3) of the orig. 12 printed wrappers have been preserved and bound-in at end of Vol. 2.