Curtis Botanical – Plate 5042 – Dominy's Calanthe — First Hybrid Orchid

Original antique black-and-white botanical print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine — Plate 5042.

Plant: Calanthe Dominii (First Hybrid Orchid — Hybrida). Origin: Veitch & Sons Nursery, London, 1856.

The first hybrid orchid ever deliberately bred by human hands. Created by John Dominy in 1856. When botanist John Lindley saw it, he said: 'You will drive botanists mad.' Every hybrid orchid in existence today traces its conceptual lineage to this moment.

Printed in London. Each print is an original page removed from a bound volume of Curtis's Botanical Magazine, the world's oldest continuously published botanical journal (founded 1787). Uncolored plate. Sold individually. Minor age-related toning consistent with 19th-century paper.

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.