[Four varieties of Iris]

Beautiful plate of four varieties of Iris, showing the whole plant from root to flower. The designs are beautifully balanced on the page and the captions elegantly inscribed. Emanuel Sweert was prefect of the gardens of the Emperor Rudolf II in Prague. His Florilegium was first printed in Frankfurt by Kempner in 1612 -1614. It was originally a sales catalogue for plants and bulbs from Sweert's gardens, to be sold at fairs in Frankfurt and Amsterdam, but now these very attractive engravings are regarded as fine examples of 17th century botanical illustration and are much collected.

Fine condition, good margins.