The Flower Paintings of Katharine Saunders [Katherine]

First edition, first impression. 344pp including 106 magnificent plate illustrations depicting Saunder's botanical and flower paintings. In deep green leatherette covers with gilt lettering on spine. Pale yellow endpapers. Folio. Gently rounded on corners. Previous owner's name, dated 1987, on the front free endpaper else internally neat, clean, bright and tight. In its original illustrated dust jacket, moderately bumped on edges and a tad compressed. Botanical and biographical notes and explanations by Professor A Bayer, and foreword by C J Saunders. Includes introduction to the botanical history of Natal. Katharine Saunders (1824-1901) was British born botanical illustrator from the Colony of Natal. She travelled extensively, painting also in the Transvaal and Swaziland, and suppling Kew Gardens in London with specimens and illustrations. Many of her paintings were donated to the Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg while many of her pressed specimens are at Kew and in the herbarium of Trinity College, Dublin. A magnificent, fascinating volume.