A Natural History of New and Rare Ferns: Containing Species and Varieties, None of Which Are Included In Any of the Eight Volumes of 'Ferns, British and Exotic,' Amongst Which Are the New Hymenophyllums and Trichomanes

London: Groombridge and Sons, 1864. 8vo. (9 7/8 x 6 1/8 inches). viii, 192pp. Illustrated with 72 chromolithographic plates and in-text, wood-engraved illustration. Publisher's original blind stamped green cloth with gilt vignette on the front board and gilt title on the spine. Slight wear to the top of the spine

A separately published continuation of Lowe's monumental fern series, the present work focuses exclusively on newly classified or scarcely known species that do not appear in his earlier eight-volume Ferns: British and Exotic. The present work reflects the fervent Victorian enthusiasm for pteridology, featuring delicate coloured lithographic (truncated) plates that render the intricate fronds of Hymenophyllum, Trichomanes, and other rare genera in exquisite detail. E.J. Lowe, a fellow of the Linnean Society, was among the 19th century's most prolific botanical authors, and this companion volume extends both the scientific reach and visual richness of his fern oeuvre. The volumes illustrations, produced with the same care and aesthetic precision as his previous works, highlight the subtle variations of form and structure that fascinated collectors and amateur naturalists alike during the height of fern mania.

Nissen BBI 1245 [1871 edition]. (Inventory #: 42235)