Cyperus and Great Reed Mace, Set of 2 Antique Botanical Plates, circa 1873

This is a set of two original antique botanical plates, Plates 238 and 234 from Volume V of Anne Pratt's The Flowering Plants, Grasses, Sedges, and Ferns of Great Britain, circa 1873. They are two original sheets sold together as one lot. Plate 238 names Sweet Cyperus (Cyperus longus), Brown Cyperus (C. fuscus) and Black Bog Rush (Schoenus nigricans). Plate 234 names Great Reed Mace (Typha latifolia), Lesser Reed Mace (T. angustifolia), Dwarf Reed Mace (T. minor), Branched Bur Reed (Sparganium ramosum), Unbranched Upright Bur Reed (S. simplex) and Floating Bur Reed (S. natans).

On Plate 238* the sweet cyperus spreads a large open head of brown spikelets under an arching green leaf, the brown cyperus sits below as a low tuft with small dark flower heads, and the black bog rush stands at the right as tall slender stems with dark brown heads above a tufted base and roots. Plate 234 is a crowded sheet of reed mace and bur reed: tall brown velvety reed mace spikes with yellow male spikes above them, among green strap leaves, and the round yellow and green burred heads of the bur reeds on their stems.

The plates come from The Flowering Plants, Grasses, Sedges, and Ferns of Great Britain, the six volume flora for which Anne Pratt (1806 to 1893) wrote the text and drew the plants. It was published in London by Frederick Warne and Co., Bedford Street, Covent Garden, for the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, circa 1873, with Scribner, Welford and Armstrong as the New York house. These sheets belong to Volume V, whose title page records 237 species in color. The plates were printed in color by William Dickes of London, a licensee of George Baxter's color process.

Even age toning. Handling soiling along the edges of both sheets. Small nicks at the top edge of Plate 238*, with a soiled paper remnant along its lower left edge. Light spotting in the margins. Slight corner wear on both.

These are original antique plates, not modern reproductions. This item is sold unframed.