Background:

These prints are from the First Edition of Notes on the Tulip Species.   The accompanying text was originally authored by William Dykes (1877-1924), Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society for several years, and completed by his wife Elsie Katherine Dykes following his death at the age of 48.  Mrs. Dykes also illustrated the 54 Tulip species featured in the folio.

Many of the Tulips presented in the Notes were planted in the Dykes' garden at their home in Surrey.  As Mrs. Dykes says in the preface "Since (his death) I have endeavoured to keep the garden as he would have wished it and have taken special care of the Tulip species".