Background:

These botanical engravings are from the History of the Vegetable Kingdom, a mid-1800s reference work portraying plants from the vegetable family with uses "to man ... and their application in the arts, manufacturing, medicine and the domestic economy".

The engravings are based on illustrations by James Stewart and Walter Hood Fitch.  Stewart is best know for his work in Sir William Jardine's Naturalist Library, while Fitch was was one of the artists for Curtis's Botanical Magazine in the early 1800s.

The engravings feature an exquisite level of detail.  Each is provided with a copy of the accompanying text page which identifies the plants shown in the print.