I was fortunate to spend the afternoon at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the MN Landscape Arboretum. Not only is this library a hidden jewel, with the beautiful furnishings of George Nakashima, but it also houses some beautiful rare books. This book "De Historia Stirpium Commentarii Insignes" by Leonhart Fuchs, a German botanist & physician, contains over 500 detailed woodcut prints that were handpainted. It was written in Latin and was a collection of medicinal plants. Imagine the time to cut these images into wood blocks. To see this book in it's entirety and be cognizant of it's age was a beautiful treat. I took photos of some of the prints that I thought you might enjoy. By the way, the fuschia was named after Leonhart Fuchs. Check back in a few days for additional prints of these blocks in a later book published in 1774, Anleitung zu der Pflanzenkenntniss (Guide to Plant Knowledge) by Dr. Salomon Schinz
Special thanks to the Andersen Horticultural Library & to Librarian Kathy Allen
for sharing this treasure with me.
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