Flora Of The West Indies By François Richard De Tussac - Akeesia Africana - Original 19th Century Engraving

Flora Of The West Indies By François Richard De Tussac "Akeesia Africana" Original 19th century engraving on vellum paper (1815) Dimensions: 53.5 x 34.7 cm Dimensions at the bowl: 44 x 28 cm Very good condition, the board is fresh and the colors are bright. Flore des Antilles by Tussac is one of the oldest illustrated publications on the flora of this region of the world. François-Richard de Tussac (1786-1827) was a Poitevin botanist who settled in Martinique in 1786, before becoming the curator of a botanical garden in Haiti. He then visited Jamaica before returning to France where he notably directed the Jardin des Plantes d'Angers (1816-1826). La Flore des Antilles, a work in 4 volumes, was published between 1808 and 1827. The numerous colored plates were produced from the herbarium that Tussac collected during his stay or from the most renowned artists of the era, such as Turpin, Poiteau or Redouté.