‎Bailey, F.M.‎
‎Lithograms of the Ferns of Queensland.‎

‎1892 7 p., 191 lithographed plates, contemporary half leather with marbled boards. Wear on outer ends spine and some rubbing on boards. Library stamps of Prof. W. Briecke (Göttingen) and Göttinger Vereinigung Naturforschender Freunde. Text and last three plates foxed. Four original dried ferns are inserted in the book.A peculiar book that, although it is never mentioned in the descriptions of the book (at least those that I saw), has 191 nature printed plates. In the brief text allusion to this method is made as Bailey writes: “it may be state that, probably from my intimate knowledge of Australian ferns and a large collection of herbarium specimens, I am the only one here who could furnis authentic specimens for the purpose”. To the Government lithographer (Mr. Costin) my thanks are due for the very great care he has taken in placing each specimen upon the stone”. This results in a more ghostlike appearance of each fern which is typical for nature printed illustrations. The Lithogram was a copying method in use in the second half of the 19th century. ‎

Reference : BV43187

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