Reichenbachia. Orchids Illustrated and Described. First edition with 192 chromolithographs, housed in elegant slipcases.
St. Albans, London: F. Sander and J. French for Henry Sothern, [1886]-1888-1894. Folio (522 x 392). Housed in 4 elegant and massive slipcases of embossed lambskin over linen by the celebrated binder Sasha Mosalov.
[viii (of x)], 110; [viii], 106; [8], iii, [1], 104; [viii], 24, 27-114 pp. 2 Series in 4 volumes; with 192 chromolithograph plates after Henry George Moon, W.H. Fitch & A.H. Loch, wood-engravings throughout the text. Lacks first volume title page, pp. 25/26 in final volume; plates with fresh tissue guards; some toning and edgewear, occasional spots (more so to verso), dampstain in margins of some plates, text with occasional foxing and toning, some chips and damp staining, wrappers with chips around extremities of the text pages, which are on brittle pages.
OCLC Number: 221762250
FIRST EDITION of what Sitwell considers an "important and authoritative work for orchid growers." German-born Sander settled in St. Albans, Hertfordshire where he ran a successful nursery specializing in orchids. The above work, which was a collaboration with landscape painter Henry G. Moon, was named in honor of the renowned German orchidologist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach. The chromolithographs are among the best of its day with hand-cut blocks and use of up to 20 colors. Great Flower Books p 135.
Very Heavy (will cost extra for shipping). Item #51-3047
Price: $17,500.00