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Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts
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Non UK callers :
+44 7931 370 372
John Edwards botanical copper engraving c.1769
Rare, genuine hand-coloured copper engraving of Rosa punicea - The Austrian Rose drawn and engraved by John Edwards for The British Herbal, dated 1769.
The Austrian Rose is Plate 67 in the series
It is beautifully framed in an ivory mount with grey line and a pale grey chalky-finish painted oak frame. A label on the reverse states that it was framed by Stephen Murphy Frames of London SW18 using conservation materials.
This is one of 100 hand-coloured engraved plates by J. Edwards, Ferner, W. Darling and I. Fougeron after drawings by J. Edwards. The first issue was published in monthly parts in 1769-1770 under the title Edwards's British Herbal with the second issue following shortly afterwards in 1770 it was titled The British Herbal, containing one hundred plates of the most beautiful and scarce flowers and useful medicinal plants which blow in the open air of Great Britain, accurately coloured from nature with their botanical characters, and a short account of their cultivation... and printed in London for the author and sold by J. Edmonson and J. Walker.
It was reissued again in 1775 as A select collection of hundred plates. 'In its graceful illustrations the artist allowed his imagination free rein, feeling no need to consult a botanist or to tailor his drawings to the exacting requirements of science' (L. Tongiorgi Tomasi, An Oak Spring Flora p. 246). The work is an herbal in name only, with text compiled from the descriptions in the works of Edwards' contemporaries, and ordered according to Edwards' innate design sense rather than Tournefort's or Linnaeus' classification. By the third issue Edwards clearly felt that the pretence had gone on long enough and the title was changed to the more accurately named A select collection of one hundred plates.
A fine copy of the First Edition, second issue containing all 100 plates realised GBP 23,000 at Christies in March 2000. Another copy sold at Sothebys in November 2003 for GBP £31,200. Individual Plates generally sell for several hundred pounds each.
Biography (source: Wikipedia): John Edwards (1742 – 31 August 1815) was an English botanist, painter, designer and illustrator, noted for his serial publication, The British Herbal.
After living in London until about 1778, he moved to Surrey, and exhibited with the Royal Academy and the Society of Artists, of which he was a member. Edward also produced textile designs, especially for calico. He published The British Herbal Containing One Hundred Plates of The most beautiful and scarce Flowers and Useful Medicinal Plants in monthly parts between 1769 and 1770, covering exotic and British flowers, using text gathered from various sources, and his own hand-coloured engraved plates.
A Collection of Flowers Drawn after Nature & Disposed in an Ornamental & Picturesque Manner was his next publishing venture. The imprint dates of the plates show that he had started the project in 1783, completing 79 plates through the 1780s and 1790s. Edwards designed, etched and coloured all the plates himself, thus having complete control of the operation.
Edwards died in Hampstead.
I have 5 Plates left from this series, all framed in exactly the same way.
P&P £7.50 within the UK. Please contact us for combined postage cost if you are buying two or more, or if you live overseas.
SellerTorr Antiques & Decorative Arts
View all stock from
Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts
Private dealer
By appointment only
Lamberhurst
Kent, England
Tel : 07931 370 372
Non UK callers : +44 7931 370 372
The Austrian Rose is Plate 67 in the series
It is beautifully framed in an ivory mount with grey line and a pale grey chalky-finish painted oak frame. A label on the reverse states that it was framed by Stephen Murphy Frames of London SW18 using conservation materials.
This is one of 100 hand-coloured engraved plates by J. Edwards, Ferner, W. Darling and I. Fougeron after drawings by J. Edwards. The first issue was published in monthly parts in 1769-1770 under the title Edwards's British Herbal with the second issue following shortly afterwards in 1770 it was titled The British Herbal, containing one hundred plates of the most beautiful and scarce flowers and useful medicinal plants which blow in the open air of Great Britain, accurately coloured from nature with their botanical characters, and a short account of their cultivation... and printed in London for the author and sold by J. Edmonson and J. Walker.
It was reissued again in 1775 as A select collection of hundred plates. 'In its graceful illustrations the artist allowed his imagination free rein, feeling no need to consult a botanist or to tailor his drawings to the exacting requirements of science' (L. Tongiorgi Tomasi, An Oak Spring Flora p. 246). The work is an herbal in name only, with text compiled from the descriptions in the works of Edwards' contemporaries, and ordered according to Edwards' innate design sense rather than Tournefort's or Linnaeus' classification. By the third issue Edwards clearly felt that the pretence had gone on long enough and the title was changed to the more accurately named A select collection of one hundred plates.
A fine copy of the First Edition, second issue containing all 100 plates realised GBP 23,000 at Christies in March 2000. Another copy sold at Sothebys in November 2003 for GBP £31,200. Individual Plates generally sell for several hundred pounds each.
Biography (source: Wikipedia): John Edwards (1742 – 31 August 1815) was an English botanist, painter, designer and illustrator, noted for his serial publication, The British Herbal.
After living in London until about 1778, he moved to Surrey, and exhibited with the Royal Academy and the Society of Artists, of which he was a member. Edward also produced textile designs, especially for calico. He published The British Herbal Containing One Hundred Plates of The most beautiful and scarce Flowers and Useful Medicinal Plants in monthly parts between 1769 and 1770, covering exotic and British flowers, using text gathered from various sources, and his own hand-coloured engraved plates.
A Collection of Flowers Drawn after Nature & Disposed in an Ornamental & Picturesque Manner was his next publishing venture. The imprint dates of the plates show that he had started the project in 1783, completing 79 plates through the 1780s and 1790s. Edwards designed, etched and coloured all the plates himself, thus having complete control of the operation.
Edwards died in Hampstead.
I have 5 Plates left from this series, all framed in exactly the same way.
P&P £7.50 within the UK. Please contact us for combined postage cost if you are buying two or more, or if you live overseas.
Price The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 15/JAN/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
DimensionsFrame: 45 cm x 33.5 cm
Image (internal mount): 35.5 cm x 25 cm
Category Antique Pictures / Engravings / Art
> Antique Engravings
Date 1769
Late 18th Century Antiques Material Paper
Origin English
Maker John Edwards
Condition Very good condition though the colours are muted/faded. Generally clean paper, though there appears to be a repaired internal tear about an inch long outside the image above the left flower.
Item code as1016a062
Status Sold
£70.00 
$85.81 
€83.26 
$
€
Conversion rates as of 15/JAN/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Shipping information
We have a trusted delivery man who is a experienced in transporting antiques, pictures and fragile items. He can deliver to most places on mainland England and Wales and, depending on where he is on his schedule, it may take a few days or up to 4 weeks. Other couriers are available for Scotland and North Wales or where a shorter time frame is required. Purchases can also be collected in person from the Tunbridge Wells area in SE England.
View all stock from
Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts
Private dealerBy appointment only
Lamberhurst
Kent, England
Tel : 07931 370 372
Non UK callers : +44 7931 370 372
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