First published in 1950, this required work on the subject was probably the first attempt to present a general survey of the development of botanical illustration from the crude scratchings of paleohthic man down to the highly scientific work of the day. Between the purely botanic drawing and the purely artistic painting lies a vast body of drawings and paintings with a combined scientific and aesthetic appeal, and it is this wide range of illustration that Wilfred Blunt explored and recorded. The contribution of a copious and international talent to botanical illustration is here covered in greater depth than ever before; behind the world famous names - Ehret, Redoute, Thornton and the Temple of Flora, and John Ruskin - to name a few, there lies a wealth of splendid illustrators with which the general public is largely unacquainted, all here given their rightful place. Professor Steam, who was closely involved with the original publication, has revised this classic work, bringing the chapter on 20th century botanical illustration up to date, and including a great number of coloured illustrations.