Sander, F. [Henry Frederick Conrad] | The most spectacular book on orchids ever produced

Sander, F. [Henry Frederick Conrad]

Reichenbachia. Orchids Illustrated and Described. London: H. Sotheran & Co., Saint Albans: F. Sander & Co., 1888-1894

First and second series, together 4 vols, folio (525 x 385 mm). Half-titles, title-pages, dedication leaves, preface in volume one of first series, engraved portrait in volume one of second series, 192 chromolithographed plates guarded on linen, paper guards to plates in first three volumes, worn glassine wrappers loosely inserted in second volume of first series; foxing throughout but plates nonetheless bright, open and closed tears (some of which repaired) to a few paper guards, browning from paperclip to verso of pl.76 in first series, in the second series pl.22-29, pl.35, pl.38, and pl.40 with slight loss of plate onto guard, pl.41 and pl.44 partially adhered to guards, short closed tear to pl.68 at foot not affecting plate. In half green morocco over green cloth, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second and fourth lettered in gilt, others ruled in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt; boards and extremities rubbed, some stray stains to cloth, endpapers foxed.

The most spectacular book on orchids ever produced. In his introduction Sander states: "The growing popularity of Orchids, and the ever-increasing demand for information respecting them, is sufficient reason for issuing the present work. ... It will be our aim to represent truthfully the natural aspect of the plants, which will be drawn life size ... Some of the plant portraits will be coloured by lithography, others will be hand painted when found expedient. ... It is our intention to illustrate all classes of the Orchid family." According to Swinson, "By modern standards the work was of a monstrous size ... Where the orchid was concerned, Sander never spared himself, but even so, the care lavished on the Reichenbachia still provokes astonishment. Apart from the elegance of Moon’s drawings, the technical standards would have been a tribute to any large printing house. The blocks were hand-made, out of wood; and the chromolithographs were produced by the use of as many as twenty inks. The cost to Sander was enormous, and it is said to have been well over £7,000 ... It is no wonder that Sander often remarked in later years that the project almost ruined him" (A. Swinson, Frederick Sander: The Orchid King, 1970).

REFERENCE:

Great Flower Books, p.75; Nissen BBI 1722; Stafleu TL2 10.129

PROVENANCE:

Robert Meehan Scully (bookplate to integral blanks)