Paul Kitaibel: Descriptiones Et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae

This collection of the plants and flowers of the Carpathian Basin is one of the most beautiful books of its type. Paul Kitaibel (1757–1817), the famous botanist made long journeys in the Carpathian Basin at the end of the 18th century. During these trips, he collected and described the different plants, rocks, and analyzed the mineral water as well. This work was the basis for the 3 volumes presented here in this richly illustrated album. It contains 280 beautifully hand-colored engraved plates of which 16 fold out. This is a fine, unabridged, and unusually fresh copy of the first (and only) edition of this monumental study of the flora of Hungary and adjacent territories, including Croatia, with splendid graphics in the Viennese ‘Jacquin’ style.

A Grand Botanical Research Project

The text is by Paul Kitaibel, professor of botany at the University of Pest. He spent much of his career roaming Hungary and collecting botanical, zoological, and mineralogical specimens as well as folklore. His collections of botanical and mineralogical specimens formed the basis for the natural history collection of the Hungarian National Museum. The work was financed by Count Franz Waldstein (1759–1823), an Austrian military leader who fought against the Turks in the Austro-Turkish War (1788–91), Russia, and various North African states as a Maltese knight. Beginning in 1789, he devoted himself to botany, travelling with Kitaibel through Hungary collecting plants, interspersed with military service. His herbarium is stored today in Prague. The water colors are signed by Hirscher and the plates are engraved by Karl Schutz after drawings by his son Johann.