184 William Curtis (1746–1799) – Strelitzia Nicolai (White Bird-of-Paradise) – Hand-coloured lithograph (1898)
This impressive botanical illustration, Plate 7628, depicts the majestic Strelitzia Nicolai, commonly known as the White or Natal Bird-of-Paradise, a species native to South Africa. The print is a fold-out double plate, necessary to capture the full scale of the dramatic bloom emerging from a boat-shaped, dark green spathe. The flower features large, pointed white sepals and blue petals, rendered with sharp detail. This exotic study was published in Curtis's Botanical Magazine, a seminal journal dedicated to accurate documentation of newly introduced species cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
William Curtis was an English apothecary and botanist who founded The Botanical Magazine in 1787. Initially a demonstrator of plants at the Chelsea Physic Garden, Curtis established the magazine as an accessible and affordable vehicle for introducing exotic and ornamental plants to gardeners and botanists. Though Curtis himself died relatively early, the publication continued under a succession of influential editors and renowned illustrators, growing in scientific authority through its close affiliation with Kew. It remains the longest continuously published and most authoritative botanical serial in history.
Artist or Maker: William Curtis
Dimensions: Approximately 24 × 31 cm
Medium: Hand-coloured lithograph
Date: 1898
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Estimate | 300 - 400 SEK |
| Buyers Premium (inc. VAT) | 24.4% |
| Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 6 SEK |
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