The Temple of Flora (Folio Society Limited Edition)

Folio Society limited facsimile edition. First edition thus. Numbered on rear limitation page, 23 of 1980 (of which only 600 were printed with the text and bound).

Among the finest of all flower books, an exquisite collection of illustrations and poetry produced by physician and botanist Robert Thornton originally in 1799.

Thornton commissioned the best artists and illustrators of the era to produce the paintings, which were then engraved and reproduced in colour by hand. An endeavour so costly that it proved to be a disaster for Thornton, who went bankrupt before realising his dream of creating the most beautiful and interesting flower book ever made.

Housed in green canvas cloth solander case. Hand bound by Smith Settle in quarter dark green goatskin and dark green canvas cloth. Spine titling in gilt on black leather panel. Cover illustration in gilt and colour reproduced from plate "The Night-Blowing Cercus" by David Eccles. Upper edge spayed dark green. Commentary volume by Stephen Harris, bound in dark green buckram. Spine lettered and ruled in gilt, titling to cover on white panel.

Overall condition: near fine. Solander case somewhat bumped and market, with a small patch of wear to upper spine crease. Main volume near fine, some very minor rubbing to cover illustration. Contents fine, as new, stark and captivating. Companion volume and loose plates fine, as new.

2 volumes. Folio Society Limited Edition (23/1989 [600]). London: The Folio Society, 2008. Elephant Folio. Original quarter morocco and cloth in cloth solander case. Pages: Main volume: 9 preliminary monochrome plates, 5 preliminary colour plates, 29 floral plates in full colour. 2 loose full-page colour plates in sleeve; Commentary volume: 117.

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This book is currently not on display in store.

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