Elizabeth Blackwell (nee Blachrie) was among the first women to achieve fame as a botanical illustrator.
She was born in Aberdeen in about 1700, but moved to London after she married.
She undertook an ambitious project to raise money to pay her husband’s debts and release him from debtors’ prison. Her project was a book called ‘A Curious Herbal’.
She learned that physicians required a reference book which documented the medicinal qualities of plants and herbs. In order to develop the publication she examined and drew specimens of plants available in the Chelsea Physic Garden. Sir Hans Sloane provided financial support to publish ‘A Curious Herbal’.
Elizabeth Blackwell is notable for being one of the first botanical artists to personally etch and engrave her own designs. This saved the expense of hiring a professional engraver. In total, the enterprise took Blackwell six full years to complete and in the end she was able to release her husband from prison.
‘A Curious Herbal’ was published between 1737 and 1739. The book contained the first illustrations of many odd-looking, unknown plants from the New World.
Merian DeBry – Florilegium Renovatum et Actum 1641. These fine hand coloured copper engravings are from the enhanced edition of Johan DeBry’s earlier publication in 1612.
DeBry belonged to a noted family of Master engravers from Frankfurt. Mattheus Merian was the son in law of DeBry and had a reputation for his landscape work, his daughter, Sibylla Merian went on to produce two of the most significant works published (by a woman) in the 18th Century. Both editions of this work are rare but Merian’s expanded work is considerably harder to find.
Merian DeBry – Florilegium Renovatum et Actum 1641 (unframed). These fine hand coloured copper engravings are from the enhanced edition of Johan DeBry’s earlier publication in 1612.
Hortus Indicus Malabaricus. Hendrik Draakestein.</p> The first complete flora from the East Indies. A very fine example of hand coloured copper engraving.
