Barend Hendrik Thier

Barend Hendrik Thier (1743-1811)
Plantarum Selectarum in horto viri Nobilissimi Jaäci van Buren, dicto Americae, nutritarum quarum imagines viris coloribus repraesentavit Bernhardus Henricus Thier, Pictor excellentissimus niminibus propriis illustravit Nicolaus Meerburg, Horti Botanici Leijdensis Hortulanus experientissimus. [Leiden: c.1780-1790].
Folio (380 x 262mm). Manuscript flower album containing 6-page index with calligraphic title, 9-page index (316 x 207mm) following Linnean classification, and 149 sheets of ORIGINAL DRAWINGS OF RARE PLANTS AND SHRUBS IN WATERCOLOUR, each signed by the artist ('B H Thier f.') and with calligraphic Latin identification in cartouche below, numbered at upper right corner; Linnean name written at lower right corner of verso. The album originally contained 155 drawings, as noted in the index; the absence of nos. 18, 46, 76, 78, 148 and 150 is noted in pencil in an early Dutch hand; similar annotations next to a further 3 plates crossed through.
WATERMARKS: Drawings on paper, all with a fragment of a watermark, most LVG under the fleur-de-lys and countermarked IHS below a Maltese cross a.o. IVILLEDARY (Churchill no, 411, Heywood no's 1809, 1835), fol. 141 with J KOOL (compare Churchill 42 and 197) and fol. 149 and 152 with D&C BLAUW (compare Churchill 329). 6-page index on paper marked fleur-de-lis and LVG (Lubertus van Gerrevink), one countermarked with fragment of Maltese Cross (Churchill no, 411, Heywood no's 1809, 1835); the 9-page index with watermarks: three stars in cross (not in Churchill or Heywood, there are some marks with three stars from Venice, similar but not identical for example 687 and 813) and J. CUSSON (not in Churchill and Heywood, other marks of J. Cusson from Paris, Heywood 715, 3291-3295). All watermarks are 18 th Century.
BINDING: The drawings are on loose sheets contained in a fine portfolio of red calf gilt, title lightly tooled in blind on front cover, spine lettered in gilt 'ARBORES, FRUITICES, PLANTAE AD VIVUM COLORIBUS PICTAE', four pale green silk ties, doublures of panelled calf gilt.