Orchids of south Africa (Icones Orchidearum Austro-Africanarum Extra-Tropicarum) (3 Vols)

This is the proper first edition with the elusive Volume 1 Part 1 as well as the more common Part 2, and Volumes 2&3, where the title page is in Part II. Bolus began to take a special interest in Orchidaceae after his first trip to Kew. His first publications on Orchidaceae appeared in 1882 when besides his 'Notes on some Cape orchids' he published 'A list of published species of Cape orchideae' prepared largely during a visit to Kew in 1881. He published The orchids of the Cape Peninsula in 1888 many of the 102 species which he described being illustrated with partly-coloured plates which he prepared himself. This work was followed in 1893 by the first volume of his Icones orchidearum Austro-Africanarum extra-tropicarum. Although he worked on two volumes the second did not appear until just after his death in 1911. A third volume was edited and completed by Miss H. M. L. Kensit with nine extra plates painted by his son Frank Bolus (1870-1945) and published in London in 1913. DSAB I p. 90.

Hardcover. English. William Wesley & Son. 1896, 1911 & 1918. Volume 1 Part 1 has 50 'Tabs' of a few pages each plus appendix, and Part 2 has 100 'Tabs' with appendix. Vols. II and III have 100 'Tabs.. In the original green cloth with gilt title so spine and upper cover, Book No: 2505273