Hunt Institute specializes in the history of botany and all aspects of plant science and serves the international scientific community through research and documentation. To this end, the Institute acquires and maintains authoritative collections of books, plant images, manuscripts, portraits and data files, and provides publications and other modes of information service. The Institute meets the reference needs of botanists, biologists, historians, conservationists, librarians, bibliographers and the public at large, especially those concerned with any aspect of the North American flora. Learn more
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Royal armorial bindings
The finest of all bindings come from aristocratic owners who had their coats of arms tooled on their leather bindings. Hunt Institute, like any collection with old books, has many examples of these armorial bindings, including some of royalty.
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![Faber, [Mexicanarum Plantarum Imagines, ?1613]](/admin/uploads/hibd-faber-cascabela-019-featured-item.jpg)
Faber, [Mexicanarum Plantarum Imagines, ?1613]
In 1613 the young Accademia dei Lincei in Rome was attempting to publish the results of Francisco Hernández's expedition to New Spain (Mexico). They printed some of these woodcuts for a potential patron of the Accademia, the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. In 1958 Rachel Hunt purchased a copy of this rare work for her collection, and now the Library has digitized the book.
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Chazal’s Flore Pittoresque (1818–?1825)
The 50 color stipple engravings were executed and finished by hand by Chazal, 44 after his own originals, 4 after his teacher Gérard van Spaendonck (1746–1822), and 2 after Jan van Huysum (ca.1687–1740).
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