Catalog Archive
Auction 99, Lot 540

"Florilegium Amplissimum et selectissimum que non, tantum varia diversorum florum praestantissimorum, et nunquam antea exhibitorum genera, sed et rarae quamplurimae Indicarum plantarum, et radicum formae, ad vivum partibus duabus, quatuor etiam linguis…", Jansson, Jan

Subject: Botanical - Title Page

Period: 1631 (dated)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
7.6 x 12.2 inches
19.3 x 31 cm
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An interesting title page to a florilegia, a book of botanical illustrations. The introduction of engraving as a technique for book illustration coincided with the proliferation of new plant arrivals in Europe from Turkey and the New World. This book was commissioned by Rudolf II of Austria of Emanuel Sweerts, a Dutch natural history dealer. It was one of the earliest such works - completed in 1609 and originally published in 1612. This edition, published by Jansson, was issued in 1631. The sheet features allegorical figures representing the sun, earth and moon in a fine European style garden. At top is a decorative title cartouche and at bottom Jansson's imprint is flanked by portraits of famous botanists, Carolus Clusius and Rembertus Dodonaeus.

References:

Condition: A

Mild overall toning.

Estimate: $200 - $250

Sold for: $180

Closed on 6/12/2002

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