[NATURAL HISTORY]. CURTIS, William (1746-1799) and others. The Botanical Magazine, or, Flower-Garden Displayed... London: Stephen Couchman; W. Curtis, et al, 1797-1816

40 volumes in 34, 8vo (235 x 140 mm). Comprising vols. 3-18, 20-42. Approximately over 1500 hand-colored engraved plates, many folding. (Light spotting, mostly to text.) Contemporary speckled calf (rebacked to style). Provenance: collector's armorial bookplate.

AN EXTENSIVE RUN OF ONE OF THE OLDEST AND "MOST CELEBRATED OF BOTANICAL MAGAZINES" (Cleveland Collections). The work was immediately successful, (its publication continuing almost without interruption until 1983), endorsing Curtis's theory that his clients, who refused to buy folio pictures of unassuming plants, would subscribe to an octavo work that pictured showy plants that filled their gardens. Brunet II, 446; Cleveland Collections 577; Great Flower Books (1990), pp.156-7; Nissen BBI 2350; Stafleu & Cowan 1290.