Books and Manuscripts

Bateman, James
A Monograph of the Odontoglossum
London: L. Reeve & Co., (1867)-74. First edition. Folio. With half-title. Illustrated with 30 hand-colored lithographic plates by Walter Hood Fitch. Full 20th-century dark blue levant, paneled in gilt, lettered with initials 'H.C.S.' and the date '1961' in gilt at foot of spine, boards slightly warped; all edges gilt; by Sangorski & Sutcliffe; pencil inscription on half title “Clare Howard / Corley Castle / Carlisle”; light foxing to half-title and title-page; scattered pale foxing to plates, largely along margins; scattered light thumb soiling to some plates; scattered light spotting to text. Sitwell, Great Flower Books (1990), p. 73; Nissen BBI 88; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 343

A handsome copy of the greatest work on the most beautiful of all the high elevation 'cool' orchids--the genus Odontoglossum. Illustrated with magnificent plates by Walter Hood Fitch, “the most outstanding botanical artist of his day” (Blunt & Stearn, The Art of Botanical Illustration, p. 265).