AUTHOR: Curtis, William (1746-1799) TITLE: Flora londinensis: or Plates and descriptions of such plants as grow wild in the environs of London: with their places of growth, and times of flowering; their several names according to Linnaeus and other authors: with a particular description of each plant in Latin and English. To which are added, their several uses in medicine, agriculture, rural oeconomy and other arts, by William Curtis. IMPRINT: London: printed for and sold by the author [etc.] 1777-98. COLLATION: 2 v.: 431 col. pl.; 48 x 29 cm. NOTES: Have complete in 2 v. Title vignette. “The greatest work on the British Flora with splendid plates by Kilburn, Sowerby and Sydenham Edwards.” — Wheldon & Wesley catalog no. 219 “Contains some of James Sowerby’s first botanical illustrationis; other artists involved were Sydenham Edwards, W. Kilburn, and possibly others. The Flora londinensis embraces most of the English flora, as a result of which it should properly be regarded as the first colourplate national flora of England. ‘Curtis was a British pharmacist, botanist, and entomologist. After selling his pharmacy business, Curtis set up a botanic garden of British plants at Bermondsey in 1771. In 1773 he was appointed demonstrator of plants at the Chelsea Physic Garden, a post he held until 1777. In 1779 he moved his London botanic garden to a larger location in Brompton. [The Flora londinensis] attempted to portray all the native plants within a ten-mile radius of London, but was cut short for lack of subscriptions. According to Miss Henrey’s account, no more than 300 of any single number are believed to have been printed’ (Johnston, The Cleveland botanical collections, p. 495)” — Watson catalogue 11 (2001) REFERENCES: Dunthorn 87; Johnston 532; Henrey 595; Hunt 650; Nissen BBI 439; Stafleu and Cowan 1286 KEYWORDS: 1. Botany--London (England) LOCATION: ffQK306.C98 1777 OTHER CALIFORNIA LOCATIONS: UC Santa Barbara