Curtis Botanical – Plate 8039 – European Forsythia

Original antique black-and-white botanical print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine — Plate 8039.

Plant: Forsythia Europaea (European Forsythia). Native to: Balkans (Albania / Kosovo — endemic).

The prints in our collection come from a truly special source: the historical archives of Curtis's Botanical Magazine, the world's longest-running botanical publication. But ours aren't plates removed from bound copies. These prints are part of the publisher's original working stock — most never bound into volumes at all.

Stored untouched for generations, first by the Royal Horticultural Society and later by the legendary natural history dealers Wheldon & Wesley, this archive gives us a rare glimpse into 19th-century botanical publishing at its source.

As working stock, many of our plates never experienced the stresses of binding, giving them a unique character. You'll find some signs of their age and original printing process — it's part of their story. But overall they showcase the exquisite detail of botanical engraving in a form that few have survived to share.

We came into this archive almost by chance, and we've treated it as temporary custodians ever since. Our goal is to give as many people as possible the opportunity to own an authentic piece of this unbound edition. We hope you'll become part of the story.

Despite the name, this is actually the rarest forsythia in existence — a narrow endemic found only in Albania and Kosovo. The forsythia in every suburban yard is an Asian hybrid. The actual European forsythia is almost unknown in cultivation. The irony of the original being the rarest is intact.

Printed in London. Uncolored plate. Sold individually. Minor age-related toning consistent with 19th-century paper.