Curtis Botanical – Plate 8809 – Crested Odontoglossum Orchid

Original antique black-and-white print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine — Plate 8809.

A Colombian cloud-forest orchid bearing sprays of white to cream flowers with a distinctive crested lip (cristatum). One of the most elegant of the Odontoglossum alliance, prized by Victorian cool-house orchid collectors who competed fiercely to acquire the finest Colombian species.

Colombian and Ecuadorian heritage.

Uncolored plate. Condition consistent with age of volume. Each print is a unique piece of botanical history, printed on paper aged over a century.

This is an original uncolored (plain) plate from leftover publisher stock of Curtis's Botanical Magazine, printed in London. It was issued uncolored and never bound. We bought the holding at the estate of a Chicago rare bookseller. Labels and stock papers from the British dealer Wheldon & Wesley came with it. Library stamps, when present, are noted on the listing.