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Lot 156

WIGHT (ROBERT)
Illustrations of Indian Botany; or Figures Illustrative of Each of the Natural Orders of Indian Plants, vol. 1 only (of 2), Madras, J.B. Pharoah, for the Author, [1838]-1840, sold not subject to return

24 June 2015, 11:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

£600 - £800

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WIGHT (ROBERT)

Illustrations of Indian Botany; or Figures Illustrative of Each of the Natural Orders of Indian Plants, vol. 1 only (of 2), 97 hand-coloured lithographed plates (of 104), errata slip tipped-in, lacks 2 leaves of text at end, title and dedication leaf frayed and detached, lacks covers [Nissen BBI 2141], 4to, Madras, J.B. Pharoah, for the Author, [1838]-1840, sold not subject to return

Footnotes

A RARE MADRAS-PRINTED BOTANICAL. Wight was appointed as superintendent of the Madras Botanical Garden in 1826, employing locals to collect plant samples for him, and local artists to record them. Encouraged by the Madras Government's subscription for 50 copies, Wight decided to publish his work in India, originally issuing it in parts. In the preface he notes that it is "to be borne in mind that this being the first volume of the kind that ever issued from the Madras press; an establishment had to be formed expressly for itself: that colours of the best qualities are not to be had at any cost, and lastly, that until the arrival of a fresh supply of paper for to [sic] the publication of the 11th number, our material was much deteriorated by age and even so far damaged as to render the use of superior colours almost nugatory". A second volume appeared ten years later.

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