Vintage Flower Prints from Van Houtte 1845

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Varietes de Capucines VNH52 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35	Crocosmia Aurea VNH53 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35	Les Capucines Herbacees VNH54 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35


Grindelia Grandiflora VNH55 ~~$45~~ Sale Price: $29	Gaillardia Grandiflora VNH56 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35	Mutisia Decurrens VNH57 ~~$45~~ Sale Price: $29


Potentilla Striata VNH61 ~~$45~~ Sale Price: $29	Cathcartia Villosa VNH62 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35	Potentilla Menziesii VNH63 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35


Lilium Testaceum VNH64 ~~$65~~ Sale Price: $39	Rose Faune de Perse VNH65 ~~$65~~ Sale Price: SOLD	Datura Humilis VNH72 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35


Littonia Modesta VNH74 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35	Microsperma Bartoniodes VNH68 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35	Moraea Bicolor VNH69 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35


Viola Pyrolaefolia VNH76 Sale Price: SOLD	Ornithogalum Aureum VNH77 ~~$45~~ Sale Price: $25	Ranunculus Spicatus VNH78 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35


Torenia Asiatica Pulcherrima VNH88 ~~$45~~ Sale Price: $25	Clematis Lanuginosa VNH80 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35	Plumbago Larpentae VNH84 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35


Nemophila Maculata VNH92 ~~$45~~ Sale Price: SOLD	Streptocarpus Bifloro-Polyanthus VNH90 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35	Convolvulus Tricolor VNH93 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35


Thunbergia Chrysops VNH96 ~~$45~~ Sale Price: $25	Solanum Somniculentum VNH98 ~~$45~~ Sale Price: $25	Meyenia Erecta VNH99 ~~$55~~ Sale Price: $35

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Flore de Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe (Flowers of the Greenhouses and Gardens of Europe) was founded by Louis van Houtte, owner of the most successful nursery of the time on the European continent, and edited together with the prominent botanist Charles Lemaire.

The journal, with more than 2000 plates, was a showcase for lavish engravings of unique botanicals from around the world. The superbly illustrated plates, hand colored or finished lithographs enhanced with gum Arabic, contain a wonderful selection of plants following the interests of the famous contributors of the era - roses, bulbous plants, orchids, palms, rhododendrons, camellias and exotic plants among the 23 volumes.

Each single print measures approximately 6 1/2 inches by 9 3/4 inches & the double or folio prints 9 1/2 inches by 13 inches. On the doubles, there is a central fold, as issued and shown in the image. The paper is a fine, thick white stock, with very little foxing or other defects. The coloring is spectacular. In most cases, there is an accompanying text page and a copy of the title page.

Most of the plants depicted in the journal were for sale in van Houtte's nursery, so in one sense these plates acted as his catalogue. It is fascinating to see the species considered the most desirable of the times, with a preponderance of orchids, roses, camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons, not to mention carnivorous plants, tropicals and other exotics. It is a true pleasure to take a step back in time to visit this illustrious nursery, the like of which would be hard to find today.