Benjamin Delessert was born into a prosperous French family and had the advantages of an excellent early education. He spent most of his life in business and government affairs, but was also a dedicated amateur naturalist and patron of the sciences. In 1803, Delessert began the creation of a large and scientifically valuable herbarium for which he employed a succession of important botanists. These individuals were encouraged to publish botanical works and Icones selectae plantarum was one of them. It was published in five volumes with 500 uncolored plates from several different artists and text by A. P. Candolle. Delessert wanted the books he sponsored to be available to the general public, so the Icones bore the relatively low price of 175 francs.