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Elizabeth Blackwell Framed ‘Wall Flower’ 1730

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.

H. 55cm W. 45cm

Insectes Coleopetres – AA1875

Natural History – Dumond D’ Urville

Insectes Coleopetres by C.E. Blanchard

Hand coloured steel engravings of beetle specimens from Ambon (Moluccas), New Zealand and Tonga. Single folio sheet, plate size 400 x 270 mm, drawn by Blanchard, engraved by Mme Egasse, printed by Gide; being Plate 9 from the Atlas volume of Dumont d’Urville’s Voyage au Pole Sud et dans I’Oceanie sur les Corvettes I’Astrolabe et la Zelee, pendant les annees, 1837-40 (Paris’ Hombron et Jacquinot, 1842).

Mild water stain to upper left margin, not affecting the plate, which is in fine condition.

Unframed 31.5 cm x 51 cm