Our Curtis's Botanical Magazine Collection

Provenance of the Curtis Botanical Archive

A Two-Century Chain of Custody

At Thrifty Whiskers LLC, we hold an archive of original Curtis’s Botanical Magazine plates with well-documented provenance.

Provenance Timeline

1. 1787–Early 1900s: Reeve & Co. — Original publisher and printer of the Curtis plates.
2. 19th–Early 20th Century: Hand-Coloring Studios — Applied hand-colored finishes for publication or surplus distribution.
3. Mid-20th Century: Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Managed internal inventory and surplus stock. Records include audits and yearbook edits by Patrick M. Synge.
4. 1950s–1960s: Cambridge Botanic Garden — Collaborated with RHS; documented handling and review of Curtis materials.
5. 1960s–1970s: H.M. Stationery Office (HMSO) — Released government-held surplus stock. Disposal documented by the Exchequer and Cornwall House.
6. Libraries & Local Councils: Hull, Liverpool, Hitchin — Held surplus Curtis materials, later deaccessioned through public sale or auction.
7. 1960s–1980s: Wheldon & Wesley Ltd. — Acquired and redistributed plates to collectors and institutions.
8. 1960s–1980s: Expediters of the Printed Word (NY) — Managed U.S. shipments for Curtis material.
9. 1980s–2010s: Forstas Bookseller (Chicago) — U.S. bookseller with regional sales, often sourcing from Wheldon & Wesley.
10. 2020s–Present: Thrifty Whiskers LLC — Current owner; ongoing cataloging and research.

Ongoing Documentation

We continue to locate additional materials — including RHS meeting minutes, shipping records, and dealer notes — that further clarify the path these plates have taken over time.