A Magnificent Collection of Botanical Books. Being the Finest Colour-Plate Books from the Celebrated Library formed by Robert de Belder [Auction Catalogue, London, 27th and 28th April, 1987]

London: Sotheby's, 1987. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾ - 12 inches Tall. A mere trace of wear to the boards. Maroon cloth with gilt stamping. The colour illustration that was mounted on the front cover has come off and is tucked inside the front cover. 425 pages with numerous illustrations in color and black and white for 388 lots, followed by Bibliography of Principal References Cited in this Catalogue and Index. Biddin Slip included. From Sotheby's introduction: "This is the finest collection of botanical colour plate books ever offered for sale at auction. The collector, Mr. Robert de Belder, had both knowledge and means. He also had, and took, opportunities: he secured many of the very best copies from the Arpad Plesch collection, the Massachusetts Horticultural Library, virtually the entire rare book collection from the Horticultural Society of New York, as well as many other distinguished collections. Single-handedly, and single-mindedly, he created the greatest private collection of botanical books in the world-the equal of all but a handful of institutional holdings. From this treasure-house, the chief monuments of botanical illustration from the period 1600-1900, documenting the evolution of botanical art, have been selected.".