FIRST EDITION. The ‘Botanist’s Repository’ was started as a monthly magazine to rival the ‘Botanical Magazine’ begun in 1787. Larger in format, the plates were also superior in quality being etchings coloured by hand, often printed in blue-green ink. It ‘made a contribution of lasting importance to the literature of botany and horticulture by providing records and means of identification of a great diversity of beautiful and interesting plants, many of them new to science’ (Hunt). with many of the species depicted coming from Australia and South Africa. Amongst those illustrated are no less than 47 proteas and 26 ixias.

The work was first issued with three plates per issue, each with written descriptions of the plant. It was originally priced at half a crown and raised after 34 parts to five shillings for five plates. In 1811 it was increased again to six shillings. The tenth volume was issued over five years. The text was supplied by Andrew’s father-in-law John Kennedy, that for volume 6 was provided by A. H. Haworth and the final volumes by George Jackson. Completed in 1814, the whole re‑issued in 1816. Provenance: Property of the late Capt. J.D.G. Fortescue (1919-2017). Dunthorne 8; Great Flower Books, p. 155; Nissen BBI 2382; Pritzel 174; Stafleu TL2 135.