Flora Hongkongensis: A Description of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of the Island of Hongkong. With a Map of the Island. Published Under the Authority of Her Majesty s Secretary of State for the Colonies -
George Bentham
1861 - Lovell Reeve, London - First Edition
A fine first edition of the first and most important work on the Flora of Hong Kong ever produced, in the publisher’s original cloth covers, rare.
Dedicated to Sir Hercules George R. Robinson, Governor, Commander-in-Chief, and Vice-Admiral in the Colony of Hongkong. Flora Hongkongensis ‘was compiled by George Bentham from the Hong Kong plant specimens preserved at Kew’s herbarium and described a total of 1,056 species.
The book had two significant implications: on the one hand, it was the first record of Hong Kong Island’s flora and had profound scientific value; on the other hand, not every colony was entitled to the publication of books on their local flora, so the publication reflected the level of emphasis of Kew upon the botanical position of Hong Kong.
In addition to recording information about Hong Kong plants, Bentham expressed his surprise at the small island’s botanical diversity. Having never been to Hong Kong, his impression of the territory was mainly based on descriptions by navigators who thought Hong Kong was “so bleak and bare.” However, Bentham was astonished that the plant specimens held at Kew Gardens and collected during the book’s writing were discovered on the “diminutive island.” Notably, he believed that Kew’s collection of Hong Kong plants needed to be completed, and many places on the island were still waiting to be explored.
Therefore, he urged botanical explorers to assist in “procur[ing] materials for the further illustration of the Hongkong Flora.” In addition to acknowledging Hong Kong’s botanical ecology, Bentham emphasized the territory’s importance in the imperial botanical network. He believed Hong Kong not only supplemented and enriched both the Kew Gardens’ and botanical world’s understanding of East and Southeast Asian plants but also supported the imperial botanical network in understanding the economic crops of southern China. This suggested that Hong Kong had economic benefits beyond its botanical value.’ – Imperial Botanical Network and the Formation of the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens - Vincent Ho and Novem Ho Tsz-wing [Hong Kong Studies, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Spring 2024), 17–35].
George Bentham (1800-84) British botanist, the nephew of the utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham for whom he worked as secretary (1826–32), who prepared the Flora Hongkongensis (1861), seven volumes of the Flora Australiensis (1863–78), and what is considered his most important work, three volumes of Genera Plantarum, in collaboration with J. D. Hooker (1862–83). Genera Plantarum is still regarded as the standard work on the subject. Born in 1800 at Stoke, near Portsmouth, in his earlier years he studied law and philosophy. Though called to the Bar, Bentham soon abandoned law for botany. He was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society in 1828, and in the following year became honorary secretary of the Horticultural Society. He travelled extensively, making botanical collections, which he ultimately presented to the Herbarium at Kew. Between 1832 and 1836 he published his important Labiatarum, Genera and Species. He became friendly with Sir Joseph Hooker, director of Kew Gardens, who assisted him in the compilation of his greatest work, the Genera Plantarum, which appeared at intervals between 1865 and 1883. From 1854, he was engaged at Kew, working quietly and systematically at the description of flowering plants. Here he assisted in the preparation of floras of the British Colonies. Benthams Handbook of the British Flora (published in 1858) is still the standard guide to the naming of the native plants of Great Britain. He tells us that he amused himself by writing it before breakfast. He was president of the Linnean Society from 1861 until 1874, and was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 1864. In 1878, on the completion of his labours on the Australian flora, he was made C.M.G. He died at Kew.’ [’Nature’ 1934, 351].
Provenance: Faint stamps to half-title and last page indicate this may have originally been given to The Royal Society of Victoria, which was founded two years before this was published.
Large octavo (book size 23.1x15.5cm), pp. 20 li [1] 482 [2 (publisher’s ads)] 16 (publisher’s catalogue dated September 1st, 1860). Loosely inserted single sheet publisher’s advertisement for ‘The Floral Magazine’. In publisher s wavy patterned brown cloth, spine lettered and rled in gilt, upper board with publisher s logo stamped in gilt, brown coated endpapers, all edges trimmed. Binders ticket of Westley s & Co. London to rear pastedown. Condition: Fine but for some very light wear to corners. Ref: 111940 Price: HK$ 20,000
Dedicated to Sir Hercules George R. Robinson, Governor, Commander-in-Chief, and Vice-Admiral in the Colony of Hongkong. Flora Hongkongensis ‘was compiled by George Bentham from the Hong Kong plant specimens preserved at Kew’s herbarium and described a total of 1,056 species.
The book had two significant implications: on the one hand, it was the first record of Hong Kong Island’s flora and had profound scientific value; on the other hand, not every colony was entitled to the publication of books on their local flora, so the publication reflected the level of emphasis of Kew upon the botanical position of Hong Kong.
In addition to recording information about Hong Kong plants, Bentham expressed his surprise at the small island’s botanical diversity. Having never been to Hong Kong, his impression of the territory was mainly based on descriptions by navigators who thought Hong Kong was “so bleak and bare.” However, Bentham was astonished that the plant specimens held at Kew Gardens and collected during the book’s writing were discovered on the “diminutive island.” Notably, he believed that Kew’s collection of Hong Kong plants needed to be completed, and many places on the island were still waiting to be explored.
Therefore, he urged botanical explorers to assist in “procur[ing] materials for the further illustration of the Hongkong Flora.” In addition to acknowledging Hong Kong’s botanical ecology, Bentham emphasized the territory’s importance in the imperial botanical network. He believed Hong Kong not only supplemented and enriched both the Kew Gardens’ and botanical world’s understanding of East and Southeast Asian plants but also supported the imperial botanical network in understanding the economic crops of southern China. This suggested that Hong Kong had economic benefits beyond its botanical value.’ – Imperial Botanical Network and the Formation of the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens - Vincent Ho and Novem Ho Tsz-wing [Hong Kong Studies, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Spring 2024), 17–35].
George Bentham (1800-84) British botanist, the nephew of the utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham for whom he worked as secretary (1826–32), who prepared the Flora Hongkongensis (1861), seven volumes of the Flora Australiensis (1863–78), and what is considered his most important work, three volumes of Genera Plantarum, in collaboration with J. D. Hooker (1862–83). Genera Plantarum is still regarded as the standard work on the subject. Born in 1800 at Stoke, near Portsmouth, in his earlier years he studied law and philosophy. Though called to the Bar, Bentham soon abandoned law for botany. He was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society in 1828, and in the following year became honorary secretary of the Horticultural Society. He travelled extensively, making botanical collections, which he ultimately presented to the Herbarium at Kew. Between 1832 and 1836 he published his important Labiatarum, Genera and Species. He became friendly with Sir Joseph Hooker, director of Kew Gardens, who assisted him in the compilation of his greatest work, the Genera Plantarum, which appeared at intervals between 1865 and 1883. From 1854, he was engaged at Kew, working quietly and systematically at the description of flowering plants. Here he assisted in the preparation of floras of the British Colonies. Benthams Handbook of the British Flora (published in 1858) is still the standard guide to the naming of the native plants of Great Britain. He tells us that he amused himself by writing it before breakfast. He was president of the Linnean Society from 1861 until 1874, and was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 1864. In 1878, on the completion of his labours on the Australian flora, he was made C.M.G. He died at Kew.’ [’Nature’ 1934, 351].
Provenance: Faint stamps to half-title and last page indicate this may have originally been given to The Royal Society of Victoria, which was founded two years before this was published.
Large octavo (book size 23.1x15.5cm), pp. 20 li [1] 482 [2 (publisher’s ads)] 16 (publisher’s catalogue dated September 1st, 1860). Loosely inserted single sheet publisher’s advertisement for ‘The Floral Magazine’. In publisher s wavy patterned brown cloth, spine lettered and rled in gilt, upper board with publisher s logo stamped in gilt, brown coated endpapers, all edges trimmed. Binders ticket of Westley s & Co. London to rear pastedown. Condition: Fine but for some very light wear to corners. Ref: 111940 Price: HK$ 20,000