HAWAIIANA FROM THE FORBES COLLECTION. SINCLAIR, ISABELLA. 1842-1900. Indigenous Flowers of the H...

HAWAIIANA FROM THE FORBES COLLECTION. SINCLAIR, ISABELLA. 1842-1900. Indigenous Flowers of the Hawaii Islands. London: Sampson Low, Martson, Searle, and Rivington, 1885. Folio (335 x 255 mm). 44 chromolithographic plates printed by Leighton Brothers, tissue guards. Publisher's olive green cloth pictorially stamped and titled in gilt. Slightly rubbed, hinges reinforced with cloth tape, ownership inscription on title page, spotting and foxing, mostly to text leaves and tissue guards. Provenance: Property from the Collection of David W. Forbes. FIRST EDITION, HAWAIIAN BIBLIOGRAPHER DAVID W. FORBES COPY of 'one of the most prized of Hawaiian books among collectors' (Forbes) and the first book dedicated to Hawaiian flora to be illustrated in color. 'The following collection of flowers was made upon the islands of Kauai and Niihau, the most northern of the Hawaiian archipelago. It is not by any means a large collection, considering that the flowering plants of the islands are said by naturalists to exceed four hundred varieties. But this enumeration was made some years ago, and it is probable that many plants have become extinct since then' (preface). Isabella Sinclair, who studied botany in New Zealand, painted watercolors of the Hawaiian flora, carefully identifying each specimen with its botanical name, natural habitat, native name and other information. Forbes 3736; Great Flower Books p 76; Nissen BBI 1848; Stafleu and Cowan TL2 12.024. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing