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Published: London, 1790-93
James Edward Smith (1759-1828) was a British botanist who studied medicine in Edinburgh and Leiden. He purchased the Linnaean herbarium in 1784 which he moved to Norwich. This gave him both a purpose to his work and standing in scientific society in London. He studied the material, some of which he rearranged and relabeled. He published many works from these studies and probably the most important effect of the purchase was the founding in 1788 of the Linnean Society. He was elected president and held the office until his death.
This folio (1790-1793) was one of three works which Smith published, each offering plates of a different size. Plates one through eighteen, inserted after each description, are hand-colored engravings of flowering plants by James Sowerby and are some of his most accomplished work.
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