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Lot 94: Tussac's Flore des Antilles

Est: $80,000 USD - $100,000 USDPassed
Arader GalleriesNew York, NY, USSeptember 23, 2017

Item Overview

Description

Flore des Antilles, ou histoire generale botanique, rurale et economique des vegetaux indigenes des Antilles. Francois Richard de Tussac (1751-1837). Paris: chez l'auteur, F. Schoell et Hautel, 1808-1818-1824-1827. 4 volumes in 2, large folio (20 6/8 x 14 inches). Half-titles, title-pages for each volume in both French and Latin (spotted throughout, pages 29-80 in volume IV very browned). 137 of a possible 140 stipple-engraved plates printed in colours and finished by hand, by Bouquet, Dien, Gabriel, Massard and others after Dabnour, Poiteau, Pretre, P.J. Redoute and Turpin, including plates bis 25 in volume one, plates 2,4, 10 and 19 magnificent double-page plates, bis 1 in volume III (bound without plates 20, 31 and 32 from volume II as noted by Quaritch in 1976, some mostly marginal spotting throughout). Contemporary green paper boards, each spine with two red morocco lettering-pieces, all edges uncut (joints starting, extremities a bit worn). Provenance: with the green ink library stamp of the Society of St. Sulpicius at the end of both volumes, and on the title-page of volume III; Arpad Plesch, his sale Sotheby's 16th March 1976; Robert de Belder (1921-1995) and his wife Jelena de Belder-Koracic (1925-2003), horticulturists and proprietors of Arboretum Kalmthout, their sale Sotheby's 28th April 1987, lot 366 First edition, LARGE PAPER COPY, of which Brunet says: 'Il n'a ete tire que 150 exemplaires' (only 150 copies printed). The number of plates found in each copy varies: Dunthorne, Davy de Virille and Brunet mention 138 plates, Stafleu 137 of 140 plates. Regardless of the number, these magnificent coloured illustrations of the exotic flora of the West Indies are amongst the earliest published, and are surely the most sumptuous. When Europeans first arrived in the West Indies the islands were mostly covered by forest. Centuries of cultivation have altered that landscape considerably, but the islands remain rich in exotic native flora. The earliest botanical surveys of the islands were carried out by French and British naturalists, nearly two hundred years after the discovery of the Americas. These include the work of Plumier (1693, 1703, 1755-60) in the French colonies, and the work of Plukenet (1691), and Sloane (1696, 1707-1725) in the British colonies. Their publications are richly and superbly illustrated and depicted plants never before seen by the Europeans. Tussac was a French botanist born in Poitou, who moved to Martinique in 1786. "After some years collecting plants on Martinique, Tussac became curator of a botanic garden in Haiti. In 1802 he left Haiti and visited Jamaica before returning to France, where he later took up the directorship of the botanic garden at Angers (1816-1826). He published Flore des Antilles between 1808 and 1827 [as here]. Tussac made 2,000 drawings while in Martinique which were burnt in 1802 during the Haitian war of independence (his herbarium and manuscripts were saved, though the whereabouts of the latter is unknown). The tree fern Cyathea tussaccii (syn. Alsophila tussacii (Desv.) D.S. Conant) collected by Tussac was named after him by his son-in-law, Auguste Desvaux, also his successor at Angers" (Natural History Museum online). The plates are after the leading botanical artists of the time, such as Poiteau, Turpin, Pretre, Redoute and Risso. Dunthorne 312; Nissen 2017; Stafleu TL2 15.397. Guidance: Christie’s, July 12, 2017 - 137,000 GBP

Payment & Shipping

Payment

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Shipping

Packing and handling of purchased lots by us or by someone else is at the entire risk of the purchaser. Purchasers are responsible for all packing and shipping costs.
We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of carriers or packers of purchased lots whether or not recommended by us.

Auction Details

Arader Galleries September 2017 Auction

by
Arader Galleries
September 23, 2017, 01:00 PM EST

29 East 72nd St., New York, NY, 10021, US

Terms

Buyer's Premium

27.0%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$499$25
$500$999$50
$1,000$1,999$100
$2,000$4,999$250
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000$19,999$1,000
$20,000$49,999$2,000
$50,000$99,999$5,000
$100,000$199,999$10,000
$200,000+$25,000

Terms and Conditions

By bidding at the auction, whether present in person or by agent, or by written bid, telephone, internet or by other means, the buyer agrees to be bound by the conditions of the sale.

1. All properties are sold as is, and neither we nor the consignor make any warranties or representations with respect to any lot sold including but not limited to the correctness of the catalogue description, the physical condition, size, quality, rarity, attribution , authorship, importance, medium, provenance, exhibitions, literature or historical relevance of the property, and no statement anywhere, whether oral or written, shall be deemed such a warranty or representation. All sizes listed are approximate. Prospective bidders should inspect the property before bidding to determine condition, size, and whether or not it has been repaired or restored. WE AND THE CONSIGNOR DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OR MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTIES ARE MADE THAT ANY OF THE MERCHANDISE COMPLIES WITH ANY APPLICABLE GOVERNMENTAL RULES, REGULATIONS OR GUIDELINES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER. Mid-Hudson Galleries Ltd. as agent, nor the consignor is responsible for any faults or defects in any lot or the correctness of any images or statement as to the origin, authorship, date, age, attribution, genuineness, provenance or condition of any lot.

2. A buyer's premium will be added to the purchase of all lots in the sale, and is payable by the purchaser as part of the total purchase price. The buyer's premium for bidders participating in the auction in person or in absentia, either on the telephone or by submitting written bids in advance, is 22%. The buyer's premium for internet bidders is 25%. Mid-Hudson Galleries Ltd. may also receive a commission from the consignor.

3. We reserve the right to withdraw any property before the sale.

4. Unless otherwise announced by the auctioneer, all bids are per lot as numbered in the catalogue. The auctioneer may open bidding on any lot below the reserve by placing a bid on behalf of the seller. The auctioneer may continue to bid on behalf of the seller up to the amount of the reserve either by placing consecutive bids or by placing bids in response to other bidders.

5. All bids placed and all payments made must be in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank unless payment in U.S. dollars wired from a foreign bank has been pre-arranged.

6. We reserve the right to reject any bid. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer will be the purchaser. In the event of a dispute between bidders, or in the event of doubt on our part as to the validity of any bid, the auctioneer will have the final discretion whether to resell the article in dispute. If any dispute arises after the sale, our sale records are conclusive. Although in our discretion we will execute order bids or accept telephone bids and internet bids as a convenience to clients who are not present at the auction, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions in connection therewith.

7. If the auctioneer decides that any opening bid is below the value of the article offered, he or she may reject the same and withdraw the article from sale, and if having acknowledged an opening bid, he or she decides that any advance thereafter is insufficient, he or she may reject the advance.

8. On the fall of the auctioneer's hammer, title to the offered lot will pass to the highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer subject to fulfillment by such bidder, of all the conditions set forth herein, and such bidder thereupon 1) assumes full risk and responsibility thereof, but not limited to, insurance, fire, theft, removal and storage or damage from any and all causes and b) will pay full purchase price thereof. In addition to other remedies available to us by law, we reserve the right to impose a late charge of 1 ½% per month of the total purchase price if payment is not made in accordance with the conditions set forth. f any applicable conditions herein are not complied with by the purchaser, in addition to other remedies available to us and the Consigner by law, haser liable for the total purchase price, we at our option may either, a) cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages all payments made by the purchaser, or b) resell the property at public auction without reserve, and the purchaser will be liable for any deficiency costs including handling charges, the expenses of both sales, our commissions on both sales at our regular rates, reasonable attorney's fees, incidental damages, and all other charges due hereunder.

In the event that such a buyer pays a portion of the purchase price for any or all lots purchased, Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries shall apply the payment received to such lot or lots that Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries, in its sole discretion deems appropriate. In the case of default, purchaser shall be liable for legal fees and expenses. In addition, a defaulting purchaser will be deemed to have granted us a security interest in, and we may retain as collateral security for such purchaser's obligations to us, any property in our possession owned by such purchaser. We shall have the rights afforded a secured party under the New York Uniform Commercial Code with respect to such property and we may apply against such obligations all monies held or received by us for the account of, due from us to, such purchaser.

9 Estimates do not represent any opinion or guarantee of actual value or ultimate sale price. Actual prices realized for items can fall below or above this range. They should not be relied upon as a prediction or guarantee of the actual selling price. They are prepared well in advance of the sale and are subject to revision.

10. Should any disputes arise pertaining to purchases at this auction or any other matters relating to the auction, such disputes shall be brought in the courts of the State of New York. Venue shall be within the County of New York.

11. Any claim regarding a purchase must be made by the successful bidder to Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries, in writing, certified mail, return receipt requested, within 90 days of the final day of the live auction. Thereafter, all claims shall be time-barred.

12. Unless exempt by law, purchasers will be required to pay NYS sales tax and other local taxes as required.

13. If bidding by internet, the purchaser shall have consented to the exclusive jurisdiction of The State of New York.

14. Packing and handling of purchased lots by us or by someone else is at the entire risk of the purchaser. Purchasers are responsible for all packing and shipping costs.
We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of carriers or packers of purchased lots whether or not recommended by us.

15. We are happy to help you on the telephone or via e-mail with condition reports or any other information you might need to facilitate your bidding.

Shipping Terms

Packing and handling of purchased lots by us or by someone else is at the entire risk of the purchaser. Purchasers are responsible for all packing and shipping costs.
We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of carriers or packers of purchased lots whether or not recommended by us.