Botany - Lot 171

Botany VAN HOUTTE (Louis) Flore des serres et des jardins de l'Europe ou Description des plantes les plus rares et les plus méritantes nouvellement Introduites sur le continent ou en Angleterre... Ghent, Van Houtte, 1845-74. 20 volumes large in-8; illustrated with approx. 1,764 plates (of which approx. 374 double-page and 7 quadruple-page plates). The color plates are enhanced with wash and gummed. Set mounted on tabs, plates protected by serpents. Contemporary ½ green chagrin, gilt title and tomaisons on spine, spines slightly sunned. A good copy. Also included: QUATREFAGES (A. de): Souvenirs d'un naturaliste. Paris, Charpentier, 1854. 2 volumes in-12, contemporary ½ calf, black titles and endpapers on spines, gilt heads. 20/23 volumes making up the complete collection of this important Belgian publication written by the most eminent specialists of the time, including Charles Lemaire, M. Scheidweiler, Louis Van Houtte, Edmond Boissier, Adolphe de Brongniart, Alphonse de Candolle, Joseph Decaisne, Charles Naudin, Emile de Puydt, Reichenbach, Bernard Verlot, etc., and constitutes one of the most monumental European botanical and horticultural journals of the 19th century (Nissen BBI 2254 does not give an exact collation). In addition to trees, plants and flowers, both terrestrial and aquatic, the illustrations also deal with aquariums, greenhouses, gardens, fountains, travel, etc. The "historical, scientific, etymological, synonymic and horticultural notes" (see title vol. I) were written by Charles Lemaire, Scheidweiler, Louis Van Houtte and other leading European botanists. Volume XI (1856), starting the 2nd series of this journal, was given a different title: "Flore des serres et des jardins de l'Europe, Journal général d'horticulture...", which later became "Flore des serres et des jardins de l'Europe, Annales générales".