Spring and Winter Flowering Bulbs of the Cape Author: Barbara Jeppe

Spring and Winter Flowering Bulbs of the Cape

A Monumental and Exquisite Botanical Masterwork Documenting the Floral Splendour of the Western Cape

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Spring and Winter Flowering Bulbs of the Cape
• Author: Barbara Jeppe
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Cape Town
• Publication Date: 1989
• ISBN-10: 0195705351
• ISBN-13: 9780195705355
• Edition Details: First Edition, Standard Hardcover Release.
• Binding: Original publisher's premium full-cloth hardcover boards featuring sharp gilt title stamping along the spine block.
• Physical Format: Quarto (4to), 143 pages. Lavishly illustrated with 62 stunning, full-page colour plates meticulously reproduced from the author's original freehand watercolor paintings.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
• Exterior / Boards: The original publisher's cloth-bound binding is in immaculate condition, showing perfectly flat, square corners and pristine, brilliant cloth surfaces. The spine remains upright, square, and strongly fixed.
• Interior: The internal text block is robustly bound, crisp, and immaculate. The heavy-grade art paper and stunning color plates are bright white, clean, and free of standard user highlighting, dealer pencil markings, or dog-ears.
• Provenance & Ex-Libris Context: Features a beautiful, custom-designed ex-libris bookplate on the page opposite the title page, showcasing a stylized owl emblem and bearing the name Richard Hall. This plate marks its inclusion in the prestigious private collection of Richard Seymour "Dick" Hall (1925–1997), the celebrated Oxford-educated historian, author, and African journalist. The owl serves as a witty visual pun on his name and the native African Spotted Eagle-Owl ("Dic-Hool"), representing a lifetime of rigorous intellectual work across the continent. This exquisite mark of lineage greatly elevates the volume's desirability for discerning bibliophiles who prize verified academic provenance. [1, 2, 3]
• The Dust Jacket: Very Good Plus (VG+)
• Condition Detail: The original illustrated dust jacket is exceptionally preserved, retaining its bold, vibrant visual design and deep color tones. It displays only microscopic storage friction at the extremities, completely consistent with careful archival storage. Now professionally protected with a brand-new, archival-grade clear plastic sleeve to lock in its pristine state.

Synopsis & Historical Value

Published in 1989 by Oxford University Press, Spring and Winter Flowering Bulbs of the Cape is universally recognized as one of the most magnificent achievements in modern South African botanical literature. This comprehensive monograph provides an exhaustive taxonomic and visual record of the geophytes and bulbous flora that define the Cape Floristic Region—one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots.

Barbara Jeppe spent years in the field tracking down rare species, bringing them to life through her unparalleled botanical accuracy and delicate watercolor style. Each entry details the plant’s distribution, flowering cycle, and ecological requirements. For serious collectors of fine Africana, natural history, and botanical art, this exquisite first edition is an essential centerpiece volume.

Author Profile: Barbara Jeppe

Barbara Jeppe (1921–1999) was one of South Africa's most celebrated and deeply respected botanical artists and authors. Born in the mining town of Pilgrim's Rest, her lifelong passion for South African flora led her to publish several monumental reference works, including Natal Wild Flowers and South African Amaryllidaceae. Her extraordinary ability to combine strict scientific detail with breathtaking artistic grace earned her numerous international accolades, including the gold medal from the Botanical Society of South Africa, cementing her legacy in the vanguard of natural history documentation.

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