SET OF 18TH CENTURY BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATIONS

Four framed plates from the celebrated "Flora Londinensis" of William Curtis (London, England 1777), from engravings by William Kilburn et al. - this lot includes "Leontodon Taraxacum/Dandelion", "Polygonum Bistorta/Snakeweed", "Polygonum Persicaria/Common Spotted Persicaria" and "Malva Rotifunda/Dwarf Mallow"; beautifully hand-coloured and exquisite detail, housed in similar vintage frames with green matting, image sizes ranging from 33.7 x 25.4cm (13 1/4 x 10in) to 44.5 x 25.4cm (17 1/2 x 10in) - this and the next two lots are from the same London collection, and were acquired many years ago in the UK; Note: the Flora Londinensis is a folio sized book that describes the flora found in the London region, mid-18th century, and works are in the collection of the Smithsonian Libraries; these are genuine 18th century examples, and are the first to appear for sale in Canada by auction in over 20 years