Antique Prints, Maps, & Books of Natural History, Botanicals, & More
Lot 4904:
Description
This engaging botanical engraving is from Elizabeth Blackwell’s
A Curious Herbal. The work was published in London by C. Nourse between 1737 and 1739.
This was the first herbal illustrated by a woman. It was also one of the earliest English botanical works with hand-coloring which Elizabeth Blackwell completed with her own hand.
Elizabeth Blackwell (1707-1758) was a Scottish botanist. She created
A Curious Herbal in order to raise money to free her husband from debtor’s prison. She drew, engraved, and colored the illustrations herself with the support of Isaac Rand. She used specimens from the Chelsea Physic Garden. While she succeeded in releasing her husband from prison, Alexander absconded to Sweden and conned his way to the court physician to the King and eventually hanged for treason. Elizabeth, then a widow, was denied any profits from the enterprise when it published.
"Elizabeth Blackwell prepared A Curious Herbal, at the suggestion of Hans Sloane, as a means of getting her husband, Dr. Alexander Blackwell, out of debtor’s prison. […] This, with Martyn and Catesby, is one of the early flower books published in parts. Each numbered leaf was issued with the four plates described on it, at the rate of one a week for 125 weeks. Beginning in 1737, the parts continued into 1739. Hand-colored parts sold for two shillings, ordinary parts for one." (Hunt)
"After finishing the drawings Elizabeth engraved them on copper herself, and coloured the 500 prints individually by hand… The work was an enormous success, her husband went to Sweden where he was employed as an agricultural expert (Linnaeus visited him in 1746), but he unfortunately became involved with a political intrigue and was executed in 1747." (Henrey 455; Lisney 175 & 180)
Paper Size: ~ 9" by 14 1/2"
Paper Type or Special Features: Engraving with Original Hand-coloring by Elizabeth Blackwell
Condition report:
The work is in very good to excellent condition. There may be a few minor imperfections to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
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