J.D. Hooker & W.H. Fitch, 1855

HOOKER, J.D. (1817-1911) and W.H. FITCH, illustrator (1817-1892). Illustrations of Himalayan Plants chiefly selected from drawings made for the late J.F. Cathcart Esq. London: Lovell Reeve, 1855.

First edition, a presentation copy of "One of the finest flower books ever produced" (Jan Lewis). Inscribed: “To Dr Matthew Duncan, with the kind regards of Miss Cathcart – 5 Heriot Row, 2d April 1969.” As Hooker writes in his introduction, he wished the present work to stand as a tribute to, and a record of, James F. Cathcart's (1802-1851) contributions to the field of botany. Cathcart, despite poor health, spent a significant proportion of his life recording the flora of the Himalayas with the aid of "native artists" (he employed up to six working full-time). He was to have provided Hooker with £1000 to pay for "a work similar to the Sikkim-Himalaya Rhododendrons, and to distribute it to the principal botanists and scientific establishments in Europe." He sent ahead nearly 1000 drawings, but unfortunately died in Lausanne on his journey back to Britain. The work was eventually financed partly by Cathcart's family, partly by subscription, and partly by subsequent sales. Most of the plates were re-drawn by Fitch; in addition Hooker supplied a number of his own drawings of "alpine plants found at greater elevation than Mr. Cathcart was enabled to visit." The results include, according to Patrick Synge (writing in Great Flower Books [1990]) "probably the finest plates of Magnolia campbellii and Meconopsis simpliciifolia ever made." Great Flower Books, p. 60; Jan Lewis, Walter Hood Fitch: A Celebration, 1992, p.16; Nissen BBI 910.

Folio (506 x 370mm). Letterpress and hand-colored lithographic titles; dedication, explanation and subscriber leaves; 4 pp. introduction; index at rear. 24 hand-colored lithographic plates by W.H. Fitch (some spotting to first and last few leaves, last few text leaves creased, a couple plates with small pieces of tape to verso, a couple short closed tears at margins). Original boards (rebacked with corners renewed, some rubbing and abrading to covers).