Warner (Robert) & Williams (Benjamin S.)

Select orchidaceous plants. [first and second series],

2 vols., First edition, first series with 40 hand-coloured lithographic plates by J. Andrews and W. H. Fitch, second series with 36 plates by Fitch (39 were published in total), with tissue guards, half-titles, contemporary gift inscription to half-title of vol. 1 and title of vol. 2: ‘Thomas G. Tugwell, the gift of Mrs Warden, May 1 1881’, vol. 2 bound with contents volume from vol. 1, cancelled with correct list supplied in ms at foot, intermittent spotting throughout, [Stafleu & Cowan TL 16742], contemporary half morocco over marbled paper, ruled in gilt and gilt-lettered to spine, a.e.g., rubbed with some delamination to corners, folio, Lovell Reeve & Co., 1862-65; 1865-75 (2)

***Upper-class Victorians were gripped by ‘orchidelirium’, with collectors scouring the globe for rare examples, which would fetch extravagant prices.

Walter Hood Fitch (1817-1892) was the preferred artist of W. J. Hooker, the first director of Kew Gardens. A third series of this work was published from 1877, but is seldom seen on the market.