Curtis Botanical – Plate 6632 – Euphemia's Billbergia / Queen's Tears

Original antique black-and-white print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine — Plate 6632.

A Brazilian bromeliad named for Euphemia, Countess of Flanders — a reminder that Victorian botanical naming was as much about patronage and aristocracy as science. The Billbergia genus produces dramatic arching flower spikes of pink bracts and vivid blue-tipped flowers.

Florida, Gulf Coast, Hawaii — billbergias grow outdoors in warm zones.

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.