Antique Herb Botanical Prints, Soft Green Palette, Set of Four c.1902

Antique British Botanical Prints, Umbellifers Set of Four, Hand-Colored c.1800

This attractive set of four original hand-colored botanical plates comes from English Botany; or, Coloured Figures of British Plants, Third Edition, edited by John T. Boswell Syme and published in London by George Bell & Sons in 1902. The illustrations are based on the classic work of James Sowerby and J.E. Sowerby, whose plates remain benchmarks for accuracy and visual clarity in British botanical art.

This elegant set of four hand-colored botanical engravings depicts notable members of the Umbelliferae (Apiaceae) family, celebrated for their architectural forms, medicinal associations, and culinary history. The plates illustrate Crithmum maritimum (Rock Samphire), Angelica sylvestris (Wild Angelica), Angelica archangelica (Garden Angelica), and Peucedanum officinale (Sea Hog’s Fennel), all rendered with scientific precision and refined color typical of late 18th–early 19th century British botanical publications.

Each plate presents the plant in full growth, accompanied by detailed studies of flowers, seeds, and root structures. The combination of pale greens, soft yellows, and restrained line work gives the set a calm, harmonious visual rhythm, making it particularly suitable for kitchen interiors, libraries, apothecary-inspired spaces, or classic country-house settings. Grouped together, these prints form a coherent botanical narrative focused on coastal and medicinal plants historically valued for food preservation, herbal remedies, and maritime life.

Originally issued as individual plates, this curated set has been carefully assembled for decorative impact while retaining its scholarly character. Displayed as a group, the prints offer both visual balance and historical depth, appealing to collectors of antique natural history, interior designers seeking understated elegance, and buyers drawn to the intersection of science and art.

Condition Report

All four plates are in good antique condition. Light age-related toning and minor scattered spotting consistent with age. Trimmed margins from bound volumes. Clean impressions with clear hand coloring.

Framing Tips

These prints work beautifully framed as a group in simple light oak or walnut frames with off-white or soft cream mats. For a more contemporary interior, consider thin black frames with generous matting to emphasize the delicacy of the engravings.

Technique: Copper engraving with original hand coloring

Maker: British botanical engraver, England, circa 1902