The botanical magazine, or Flower-garden displayed, London, 1787-1800, then Curtis's botanical magazine, London, 1801-
The botanical magazine is the longest running among botanical magazines. William Curtis (1746-1799), a pharmacist with a passion for botany and entomology, and author of an important Flora Londinensis (1777-1798, in 6 volumes), began the publication of The botanical magazine, or Flower-garden displayed probably to recover from the economic losses caused by Flora Londinensis. The first volume was published in February 1787, and the format was immediately a winner: colour illustrations of ornamental, exotic and rare plants, made by true artists: among others Sydenham Teast Edwards (1768-1819) stands out, who from the first volume to 1815 would produce about 1700 plates. The illustrations are accompanied by brief descriptions about specific features of the plant, its growth and flowering. The publication as a whole was therefore also aimed at amateurs ( "intended for the use of such Ladies, Gentlemen, and Gardeners").
On the death of Curtis his friend John Sims took over, and he included in the magazine title the name of the founder. Other important botanists (William Hooker, his son Sir Joseph, Otto Stapf, Robert Sealy, David Hunt, among others) then succeeded in the direction of the magazine.
At the end of World War I economic problems were jeopardizing publication, but some rich and enlightened private lenders guaranteed its continuation. The magazine has been published continuously since 1787 (from 1984 to 1994 with the title of Kew Magazine).
The most antique volumes held by the Sciences Library (Botany branch) come from the personal library of Philip Barker Webb and are embellished with a leather binding with a valuable gold decoration and a beautiful bookplate.