Joseph Banks' Florilegium

Joseph Banks' Florilegium chronicles the journey of Joseph Banks, who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage around the world from 1768 to 1771. As a gifted and wealthy young naturalist, Banks collected exotic flora from locations such as Madeira, Brazil, Tierra del Fuego, the Society Islands, New Zealand, Australia, and Java. He brought back over 1,300 species that had never been seen or studied by Europeans.

Upon his return, Banks commissioned over 700 exceptional engravings between 1772 and 1784. Known collectively as Banks' Florilegium, these engravings are some of the most precise and exquisite examples of botanical illustration ever created.

The Florilegium was never published during Banks' lifetime, and it wasn't until 1990 that a complete set in colour was issued in a boxed edition, limited to 100 copies, under the direction of the British Museum (Natural History). From these prints, the present selection is made, with guidance from David Mabberley, who has provided expert botanical commentaries. Additional texts by art historian Mel Gooding set the works in context, showcasing a perfect conjunction of nature, science, and art. An afterword by Joseph Studholme describes the history of the modern printing.