Wild Flowers Drawn and Colored From Nature
New York: Charles Scribner, 1859. Twenty-two hand-colored lithographs including frontispiece by C. M. Badger (all tissue guards present). First edition, first printing. Publisher's full brown morocco, ornately blind stamped, floral decorations to front board and spine stamped in gilt, dentelles blind stamped, aeg. Large Quarto. viii, 44. 14.5" x 11.25" Moderately rubbed extremities with wear to corners; varied foxing throughout, condensed to endpapers and rarely touching plates; tissue guards lightly toned; still near fine. Overall a tight copy with still-bright illustrations. Item #239378
BLOOMS WITH FEELING AND DELICACY
Emily Dickinson's floral influences find their origins in Clarissa Badger's Wild Flowers. Gifted to Dickinson by her father just before the beginning of her most prolific period of writing, it is no surprise that Badger's stunning drawings of American wildflowers inspired Dickinson with strong natural themes.
Connecticut-born Badger's (1806-1889) hand-colored botanical illustrations, each paired with a poem, have been hailed for their beauty since the collection's publication in 1859. They were considered the best floral illustrations in America at the time and were widely reproduced, infused with the feeling and delicacy of local blooms.
Complete with an introductory poem by the "Sweet Singer of Hartford," Lydia Sigourney, this first edition is truly scarce to find with the binding intact. This copy's hand-colored plates are still bright and beautiful, capturing the wildflowers of America in Badger's original glory.
[Nissen 57].
Price: $2,500.00