Author: Bolus, Harry
Title: Icones Orchidearum Austro-Africanarum Extra-Tropicarum; or, figures, with descriptions, of extra-tropical South African Orchids, in 3 volumes (1896-1911-1913) + The Orchids of the Cape Peninsula (1918), in 4 uniformly-bound volumes
Description: London: William Wesley and Son (1896-1913) + Cape Town: Darter Bros and Co. (1918). First edition. Pp. (vol. 1): vi, (6), (6), with 100 hand-colored lithographic plates (partially colored as called for), each with descriptive text leaves, (5), index, appendix; (vol. 2): pp. vi, frontispiece portrait of the author, with 100 hand-colored lithographic plates (partially colored as called for), each with descriptive text leaves, (3), index; (vol. 3): pp. (6), with 100 hand-colored lithographic plates (partially colored as called for), each with descriptive text leaves, (3), index. + (Orchids Cape Peninsula): pp. xxxiii, 1-141, (1); 119 partially hand-colored plates (as called for), 2 plates are double page.  One-quarter green morocco leather with four raised bands, spine with gilt panel lines bordering the raised bands and with black morocco author/title/volume label lettered in gilt in 2 compartments, over French marbled boards with matching marbled endpapers, lg 8vo (9 3/4 x 6 7/8 inches).  This set contains the complete first edition of Icones Orchidearum Austro-Africanarum Extra-Tropicarum in 3 volumes and the complete second edition of The Orchids of the Cape Peninsula edited by Harriet M.L. Bolus and Alice M. Greene (after the death of Harry Bolus).  These two works are bound uniformly in later fine green morocco over marbled boards with marbled endpapers.  The two works have a total of 419 hand-colored plates - these two works represent the foundation for the study of South African orchids by the first orchidologist of South Africa, Harry Bolus.  This work was issued in a limited edition of 250 copies. From the academic library of botanist Edmund A. C. L. E. Schelpe of Natal University College, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa with his printed name and address on the front blank endpaper. The front blank endpapers show scattered light foxing endpapers as do 2 of the 4 title pages; 4 of the 419 hand-colored plates show just a hint of marginal foxing; overall, the text, hand-colored plates and fine green morocco bindings of this four volume set are remarkably clean - a tight and bright copy in fine condition..

Keywords: Fine rare orchids orchidology botany flora plants flowers South African orchids South Africa Harry Bolus Edmund Schelpe Harriet Bolus Alice Greene


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