The Book of Plants
The Complete Plates
written by Basilius Besler, Werner Dressendorfer, Klaus Walter Littger
Taschen | ISBN 9783822838099
Paperback – 444 pages
Part of the Taschen 25 series.
$75.00
Member’s price: $67.50
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A magnificent pictorial account, documenting the flowers grown in the greatest German garden of its time, the Book of Plants depicts a great variety and range of flowers. Under Basilius Besler, a team of at least ten engravers worked on this massive project, translating in situ and specimen drawings faithfully to copper plates. The original Book of Plants (nearly 400 years old) has survived, though the gardens did not; they were destroyed by invading Swedish troops in 1634. In 1998 a reconstruction of the original garden opened to the public in Eichstatt. This facsimile's reproductions are taken from a hand-painted edition, one of only a few still extant. A first edition copy would be valued at half a million dollars. You can now enjoy its unique qualities for somewhat less, with this publication.
