86 volumes, being volumes 1 to 86 (but lacking vol. 17), plus a separate index volume to the first 42 volumes. Vols 1-42 and index bound in contemporary full mottled calf with morocco title labels to the spine. Vols 43-86 bound in half calf over marbled boards with black morocco title labels. In total 5174 engraved, hand coloured or chromolithographed plates, including 443 large fold-out plates, initially by Sydenham Edwards and subsequently by a number of botanical artists including Walter Hood Fitch for most of the later issues. The bindings are in generally very good condition with a little wear to the spines of some of the volumes, but no meaningful faults. Bound without three plates (461, 462, 3916) and with two duplicated plates in place of 3684 and 4644. Internally in excellent condition with only occasional foxing, but exceptionally clean for the most part. A handsome and unusually well preserved run of this most influential of botanical works.

A fine, long run of the most eminent of all Botanical journals, generally regarded as the most authoritative source of early botanical illustration.
Founded in 1787 by William Curtis, a botanist and natural historian, with a view to produce a journal that was both accessible and authoritative. Each monthly issue comprised of three accurate hand coloured copper engravings each opposite a page or two of descriptive text. The work was immediately popular and by the time of Curtis's death in 1799 circulation was around 3000 copes. The periodical was taken over first by Curtis's friend John Sims, who changed the name to Curtis's Botanical Magazine, and then by William Hooker in 1827. Increasing paper costs and other general economic difficulties meant that circulation dropped to less than 300 copies during the early nineteenth century. The magazine struggled to overcome increasing plagiarism from other publications and exists in varying forms to the present day.

PROVENANCE: Owen Ormsby (d.1804, grandfather of the 1st Baron Harlech, bookplate to early volumes); William Ormsby-Gore / Porkington Library (library label to a number of volumes); by family descent.
"Owen Ormsby brought a good many books to Brogyntyn [Porkington], notably the fine collections of books on botany, illustrated with colour plates. The earliest parts of Curtis... were his" - The National Library of Wales Journal (Vol 5. No 3.)

Stock ID: 36162