Category Archives: botanicals

50 Plants Precious to Man

Posted on January 4, 2017 by

These four pages are from a 1930’s encyclopedia. From a botany standpoint, they’ve got the basics covered; fruit, flowers, leaves, seeds, and roots. They are quite scientific! But what I really like about them, is how artfully they are arranged, … Continue reading →

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E. A. Séguy: man of mystery, ahead of his time

Posted on August 26, 2014 by

  E. A. Séguy produced 11 albums of nature-themed illustrations and patterns, drawing inspiration from butterflies, beetles, dragonflies, flowers, foliage, crystals and animals. I’ve always loved his work, but information on the man himself is difficult to find. This is his entire … Continue reading →

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Victorian Seed Catalogs at the Smithsonian Digital Library

Posted on May 5, 2014 by

Did you know that seeds are intellectual property?  That you are breaking the law if you harvest them to use again? Don’t even bother, because seed companies today are making sure you won’t get the same plant.  It is time … Continue reading →

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Pierre-Joseph Redoute

Posted on April 7, 2014 by

Called “the Raphael of Flowers” and the “Rembrandt of Roses” by contemporary writers, Pierre-Joseph Redoute enjoyed a long line of Royal patronage, including Empress Josephine (1763-1814) and Queen Marie Antoinette (1755-1793).  He was awarded the Order of Leopold from the … Continue reading →

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Else Bostelmann Vegetable Illustrations

Posted on September 18, 2013 by

In a 1949 National Geographic I found these illustrations of vegetables by Else Bostelmann. The subject matter, vegetables, appealed to me, as does anything related to horticulture and botany, and the artistry is top-notch, nice compositions, contrast, and colors. But … Continue reading →

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Vintage Botanical Potato Illustrations

Posted on May 26, 2013 by

These were the only illustrations in a huge textbook on the subject of potato farming.  I saved the key with the varieties named, and if you are interested just click on an image and you will be taken to my … Continue reading →

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Das Grosse Kneippbuch

Posted on April 22, 2013 by

I judged from the cover that this was going to be a good book, but would there be beautiful images inside?   I’m a sucker for skulls and skeletons, so when I saw these in the book I knew it … Continue reading →

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Hundreds Of Mushrooms From Around The World

Posted on October 28, 2012 by

I found a damaged and well-loved book the other day, called the ‘World Treasury of Mushrooms in Color’. The text is by Bernard Dupre and it was translated by David Macrae.  It was published in 1974 and printed in West … Continue reading →

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Botanical Prints of Medicinal Plants

Posted on August 12, 2012 by

In a tattered medical reference book from the turn of the century I found these 16 botanical plates illustrating the most useful plants for the doctor out in the field. Saffron, Mustard, Hedge-mustard, and Hedge-nettle. Fennel, Pansy, and Weed Sorrel, … Continue reading →

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