The plants and flowers of the Carpathian Basin: one of the most beautiful botanical works of all time
Paul Kitaibel: Descriptiones Et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae
Vienna (Austria) — 1802–1812

Paul Kitaibel: Descriptiones Et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae
Vienna (Austria) — 1802–1812
This collection of the plants and flowers of the Carpathian Basin is one of the most beautiful books of its type
The three volume work represents the findings of the famous biologist Paul Kitaibel (1757–1817) from his travels
It was financed by Count Franz Waldstein (1759–1823), an Austrian commander who studied botany under Kitaibel
Paul Kitaibel: Descriptiones Et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae
Short Description
After a career in the Austrian Army, Count Franz von Waldstein (1759–1823) devoted himself to botany and commissioned one of the most important works of the emerging science: Descriptiones Et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae. Written by Paul Kitaibel (1757–1817), professor of botany at the University of Pest, its three volumes are a summation of his years of travel and observation throughout Hungary, Croatia, and adjoining regions. This important text is decorated with 280 colored engravings detailing the flora, fauna, minerals, and even folklore of the regions he visited.
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.
Codicology
- Size / Format
- 3 volumes - 396 pages / 44.0 x 31.0 cm
- Origin
- Vienna (Austria)
- Date
- 1802–1812
- Epochs
- Style
- Language
- Illustrations
- 280 handcoloured engraved plates
- Artist / School
- Author: Paul Kitaibel (1757–1817)
Engraver: Karl Schütz
Illustrator: Johann Schütz
Printer: Andreas Schmidt
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Paul Kitaibel: Descriptiones Et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae“
Paul Kitaibel: Descriptiones Et Icones Plantarum Rariorum Hungariae
- Publisher
- Pytheas Books – Budapest
- Binding
- Half canvas hard cover binding
- More Information
- I. Volume 143 black and white pages 100 color pages (illustrations) one side printed. II. Volume 156 black and white pages 100 color pages (illustrations) one side printed. III. Volume 97 black and white pages 80 color pages (illustrations) one side printed. In the I. Volume there is a 4 page study, in the II-III. Volumes there is 6 pages plant description.
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