Beschreibung:

Florence H. Woolward The Genus Masdevallia. Issued by the Marquess of Lothian… chiefly from plants in his collection of orchids at Newbattle Abbey… with additional notes by F.C. Lehmann.London and Grantham: R.H. Porter and Lyne and Son, [1890]-1896 Folio (438 x 305 mm.), dedication leaf, errata leaf, double-page lithographed map of Central and South America, 87 hand-coloured lithographed plates, one double-page, wood-engraved head-pieces, contemporary green half morocco, spine sunned Florence Woolward was commissioned by Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian to paint his extensive orchid collection, and this was published as "The Genus Masdevallia". Woolward had no formal education in artistry or botany, but spent ten years on visits to Newbattle Abbey, depicting more than 350 orchids, of which 85 were Masdevallias. Having been unable to employ a professional botanist to write the text accompanying each plate, Florence decided to write it herself, assisted by frequent visits to the British Museum collections. The work appeared in nine parts between 1891 and 1896, each part with ten plates and text, the final part having seven plates. Each species has detailed notes on its habitat in the Andes written by Friedrich Carl Lehmann. The plates were lithographed by Florence herself. Originally 250 copies were planned, but it appears that only 150 were actually issued, with 100 being bound. In the introduction Florence touches upon her involvement in the book's preparation for publication: "It is no doubt advantageous in botanical work … that the person who makes the original drawing from nature should also lithograph the plates and indicate the colours to be used by the colorist, for, by this means, the work passes through fewer hands and is more likely to turn out accurate. I have therefore pursued this method throughout the present work, and have, besides, touched up the colouring of every plate sent out, numbering nearly 9,000". LITERATURE:Great Flower Books, p. 81; Nissen BBI 2185