Banks' Florilegium Plate 539 Beilschmiedia Tawa

Part XXVI - New Zealand. One of a set of 738 botanical prints produced from original drawings made by Sydney Parkinson on the first voyage of Captain Cook (1768-1771). Parkinson made sketches of hundreds of specimens collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander on the voyage, which were to be turned into completed watercolours on their return. This specimen was found at New Zealand, between 8 October 1769-31 March 1770. Following Parkinson's death on the return voyage, the watercolour was completed by an unknown artist and engraved by Robert Blyth, under the patronage of Banks, but never published. These passed to the Natural History Museum on Banks' death and were eventually published by them in the 1980s (in association with Alecto Publishing) in full colour, using the original engraving plates. This set is Number 95 of a limited edition of 100. Each print is inscribed with specimen name, finding location, artists names and date.

Object Details

ID: ZBA6463
Type: Print
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Editions Alecto; Parkinson, Sydney Natural History Museum Blyth, Robert
Date made: 1980-1991
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Mount: 734 mm x 570 mm