The image shows a newly printed plate
being removed from the press

ED01

BANKS' FLORILEGIUM

consists of seven hundred and forty three botanical line engravings, after the
watercolours drawn from nature by SYDNEY PARKINSON, which record the plants
collected by Sir JOSEPH BANKS and Dr DANIEL CARL SOLANDER in Madeira,
Brazil, Tierra del Fuego, the Society Islands, New Zealand, Australia and Java on
Captain JAMES COOK's first voyage round the world 1768-1771.

The engravings are printed in color à la poupée, up to ten colors being worked directly
into the single plate before each print is pulled, with additional details added in
watercolour.

Each sheet is identified by a blind embossed stamp on the recto, recording the
publishers' and printer's chops, the copyright symbol and date. The initials of the
individual printer, the plate number and the edition number are recorded in pencil.

PLATE SIZE

The plates are virtually uniform in size: 18 x 12 inches (457 x 305 mm)

PAPER

Somerset mould-made 300gsm, each sheet watermarked 'AHE', produced in a special
making by the Inveresk Paper Company : 28 1/2 x 21 7/8 inches (724 x 556 mm)

The compilation of the botanical information was made under the direction of the
British Museum (Natural History). It consists of the relevant botanical, geographical
and historical facts (including the names of the artists and engravers) which are
printed on the individual mounts.

Each of the engravings is protected within a double-fold sheet of Somerset
mould-made 300 gsm paper, acid free and cut to form a window mount.

These superlative line engravings were made under Joseph Banks' personal direction
between 1772 and 1784.

The first edition from the original copper-plates was published in thirty-five Parts by
Alecto Historical Editions, in association with the British Museum (Natural History)
between 1980 and 1990. The edition of one hundred numbered sets was fully
subscribed.