"Katu-Belluren": A 17th Century Botanical Engraving by Hendrik Van Rheede, 1686

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This is a 17th century engraving of a vine spinach plant entitled "Katu-Belluren" by Hendrik van Rheede tot Drakenstein, plate … Read more This is a 17th century engraving of a vine spinach plant entitled "Katu-Belluren" by Hendrik van Rheede tot Drakenstein, plate 46 from his 'Hortus Indicus Malabaricus' (Garden of Malabar), published in Amsterdam in 1686 by Johann van Someren. The engraving depicts the Malabar Katu-Belluren plant, which is native to South Asia, originally in the rainy tropical regions of the Malabar Coast of India and Sri Lanka. The publication features illustrations of exotic plants and fruits labelled with script in Latin, Malay, Arabic, and Sanskrit. Hortus Indicus Malabaricus is believed to be the earliest comprehensive published work on the flora of Asia and the tropics. The 17th century treatise featured important illustrations of 740 plants of the region, including Indian medicinal plants.

The engraving is printed on 17th century laid, chain-linked paper. The sheet measures 15" high by 18.5" wide. There is a central fold, as issued. There are a small number of tiny spots. The print is otherwise in excellent condition. The original Latin descriptive text page is included.

Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede tot Drakenstein (1636-1691) was from a noble family in Utrecht. He was a botanist, naturalist, a military officer and a colonial administrator of the Dutch East India Company. He also served as the governor of Dutch Malabar between 1669 and 1676. He employed 25 people to create his signature work "Hortus Indicus Malabaricus" in which he illustrated and described 740 plants of the region. Many plants are named for him, including the vine Entada rheedii. The Hortus Indicus is the first extensive publication to focus on the plants of the East Indies. The plants are described in Latin, Sanskrit, Arabic and Malayam and their names appear in the right upper corner of the print in four languages. See less