Lot 523: VICTORIA REGIA. - Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) and Walter Hood FITCH (1817-1892).

VICTORIA REGIA. - Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) and Walter Hood FITCH (1817-1892). Victoria Regia, or illustrations of the Royal Water-Lily, in a series of figures chiefly made from specimens flowering at Syon and at Kew. London: Bradbury & Evans for Reeve & Benham, 1851.

Broadsheet (764 x 550mm). Letterpress title (printer's imprint on verso), dedication to the Duchess of Northumberland (verso blank), text pp.[7-]20, [21-22]. 4 hand-coloured lithographic plates by Walter Fitch, printed by Reeve brothers. (Some small repaired tears to blank margins of text and plates, occasional light spotting to text, inner margin of title and final text leaf with strengthening guard.) Contemporary green half roan, cloth on covers, titled in gilt on upper cover, original blue paper upper wrapper bound in at front (tears to head and foot of spine, extremities scuffed, covers soiled). Provenance: James Usher Huxley (cut down mounted autograph note, dated 1859, from John Stevens Henslow [1796-1861], noting that the work was given to Huxley for examination success at London University).

FIRST EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK, INCLUDING SOME OF FITCH'S LARGEST AND MOST SPECTACULAR IMAGES 'One of the most celebrated plants from this period was the water-lily Victoria amazonica, originally called the Victoria regia by [John] Lindley in honour of England's reigning monarch. Discovered at the beginning of the century by European explorers, it created a veritable sensation in England when the eclectic and versatile Joseph Paxton (1803-1865) managed to coax the plant to flower [in 1849] while working at Chatsworth and Chiswick as head gardener for the Duke of Devonshire.' (An Oak Spring Flora p.378). In the present work, in addition to the history of the plant's discovery and its physical description, Hooker gives information on the best method of cultivating the plant in temperate rather than tropical climates. The plates are by Walter Hood Fitch (1817-1892), and are one of Fitch's first great triumphs in the field of botanical illustration. He remained the chief (and usually sole) artist for the Botanical Magazine for forty-one years, producing over 9,000 drawings. The Duchess of Northumberland's enthusiasm for the flower was quite equal to the Duke of Devonshire's and the present work is dedicated to her by Fitch: an acknowledgment of the fact that Fitch was allowed to sketch the Syon Park example of the 'vegetable wonder'.

The letter which accompanies the printed work recalls the enthusiasm with which the scientific community greeted the early flowerings of the lily: the conchologist Broderip, writes to Professor [?Sir Richard] Owen, letting him know that they can go and examine the Duke of Northumberland's lily at Syon House on the next day (a Sunday): 'Give Allan his answer as soon as you can, for he will have to order the carriage in case you go. The flower won't keep: so it may be now or never'. BM(NH) I,p.872; Great Flower Books (1990) p.103; cf. Nissen BBI 919; Stafleu & Cowan II, 3014.

William John BRODERIP (1789-1859). An autograph letter signed, to Professor Owen, 'Gray's Inn 13th April night', 4pp., with integral address panel, 'My dear O. Since I wrote to you this morning a note which arrived after I went out brings a card from the Duke of Northumberland to see Victoria Regina with the kind intimation, that though Syon is not usually riecved [sic.] on Sundays, His Grace in the present instance, if it should be the wish of you and Brown and myself to be there between the Church hours to-morrow, has given direction that we shall be admitted.' (split at fold, holed). (2)

No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium