Flore des serres et des jardins de l’Europe – Van Houtte and Lemaire

Flore des serres et des jardins de l’Europe was an extensive work detailing over 2,000 plants in coloured plates in 23 volumes.  It was published between 1845 and 1883.  It was the work of Louis Van Houtte (1810, Ypres – 9 May, Ghent), a the famous Belgian horticulturist and Charles Lemaire (1800-1871).

After beginning his career in finance, Van Houtte pursued his passion for plants and flowers and established in Ghent one of Europe’s largest greenhouse enterprises, covering over 14 hectares.  When Europe became caught up in orchid mania in the mid-19th Century, Van Houtte sent plant hunters to the Americas to search for orchids and other exotic plants.

These original hand-finished color lithographs were printed from multiple stones. Large Octavo format (Range from 16.5 x 25 to 17.5  x 26 cm)