Coloring books for adults have surged in popularity, but a rare book recently discovered in the Missouri Botanical Garden’s library proves that the concept is far from new. The Florist was printed in London around 1760. According to its title page, the book was intended for drawing, painting, and the “use and amusement of Gentlemen and Ladies,” but MoBot’s copy doesn’t appear to have been used for much more than pressing plant specimens.
60: Detailed illustrations of irises, hyacinths, fritillaries, and other flowers
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14: Pigments the book recommends for painting the flowers, including “sap-green,” “ultramarine” and “gall-stone brown”
6,000: Volumes published before 1825 that reside in MoBot’s rare book collection
10: Copies of The Florist in existence today
