Flore des serres et des jardins de l'Europe. Annales générales d'horticulture [...].

Loose, divided in 23 parts under plain paper wrappers (n.c., limited foxing).

Complete set in 23 volumes of one of the finest horticulture journals of the mid-19th c. Ill. with +/- 1900 lithographic plates (some 400 folded) expertly hand-finished in rich and luminous colours (gum heightened) protected with tissue guards. The illustrations of the "Flore de Serres" depict flowers and plants for sale at the Van Houtte nursery. Piece by piece examples of the ultimate craftmanship of the Belgian lithographers (Severeyns, Stroobant, De Pannemaker) at the time. Beside trees, plants and flowers (terrestrial and aquatic) also depictions of aquariums, greenhouses, gardens, fountains, animals, garden tools, etc.
Ref. Pritzel 10738* (mentions 17 vol. from 1845 till 1870). - Nissen (BBI) 2254.