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Text printed in various ink colors, 30 uncolored engravings on thick hand-made paper. (folio) 60.4x45.4 cm. (23¾x17¾"), half black Nigerian goatskin and Japanese silk boards;  black cloth felt-lined clamshell case; bound by Zaehnsdorf. No. 3 of 100 copies. First Edition.

This is the first publication of these engravings pulled from the original copperplates, a exceptional production, printed on fine, thick paper with rich, dark impressions, each plate with a tissue guards. The story of the appearance of these plates, based on drawings made during the first voyage, is of great interest, and demonstrates a case of fortunate preservation. Botanist Sir Joseph Banks, upon his return to England from Cook's first voyage, commissioned copperplate engravings of artwork done by him, Daniel Solander, and Sydney Parkinson. More than seven hundred plates were cut and proofs were taken, but the project never got beyond that stage, and the plates ended up in the British Museum. In 1900-1905, a series of 318 plates based on the proofs produced by lithography appeared under the general title Illustrations of Australian Plants. It was not until the present edition, however, that any plates were pulled from the original copper plates. Produced after over twelve years of planning, this work is considered one of the finest botanical books ever printed. Accompanied by a small book describing the production, Captain Cook's Florilegium: A Note on its Production by Joy Law [of the Lion & Unicorn Press]. Laid into the main volume is the list of subscribers, with Elmer Belt listed as subscriber no. 3. Both the main volume and the small book bear his bookplate.