The Forest Flora of South Australia
Adelaide, Government Printer, 1882 to 1890.
Large folio, Parts 1 to 8 (of nine), each containing five very large-format chromolithographic plates with leaves of text (40 plates in all).
Original flush-cut quarter cloth and pictorial wrappers (with some defects and blemishes, the only ones of note being stains, tears, and a missing bottom corner to the front wrapper of Part 2); the first two plates and first leaf of text of Part 5 lack a small blank bottom corner piece, there is an old repair to a long tear to both the first and second leaves of text, and three plates have a very short tear to the blank leading margin (two of them sealed); a plate in each of two other parts has a similar marginal tear; minor signs of use and age; overall, a very good run, and with the exception of a minimal amount of foxing to a few plates, they are in fine condition.
The following information from the entry on the South Australian botanical artist Rosa Catherine Fiveash (1854-1938) in the 'Australian Dictionary of Biography' is a potted history of the project: 'In 1882 Rosa was invited to illustrate "The Forest Flora of South Australia" by John Ednie Brown. Nine parts of this work, which was never completed, were published in 1882-90. Each one contained five attractive lithographs of native plants and Rosa drew 32 of the 45 published; they were drawn as specimens came to hand, in no particular botanical order'. John Ednie Brown (1848-1899) was Conservator of Forests for the Government of South Australia from 1878; in 1890 he 'accepted the position of director-general of forests in New South Wales at £800 a year, £50 more than the South Australians paid him'. Presumably Brown's departure in 1890 caused the project to be abandoned. Ferguson 7516.
Item #112655
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