Pinetum Britannicum Series: Abies Douglas

This glorious portrait of Abies Douglas, commonly known as the Douglas fir, is from The Pinetum Britannicum (1884), a massive 3-volume work by Edward Ravenscroft (1816-1890), which describes hardy coniferous trees from around the world that were cultivated in British gardens in the 19th century, when exotic conifers were all the rage. It is filled with William Richardson’s exquisite hand-colored lithographs of individual trees growing in their native habitat or in important British gardens. The Pinetum Britannicum is considered one of the greatest works on conifers ever published, and both Napoleon III and Queen Victoria were among its subscribers.

The Douglas fir (which actually belongs to the Pseudotsuga or false hemlock genus) is named after the Scottish botanist David Douglas, who introduced many native conifers of British Columbia to England. The lofty tree can reach over 250 feet in height, and is admired for its distinctive cones and soft, fragrant needles.

This pigment print on Arches Infinity Textured 230 g/m stock faithfully reproduces the colors of the original. The print is in a limited edition of 300 and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Unframed.

From the Rare Book Collections of the LuEsther T. Mertz Library at The New York Botanical Garden

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