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Lindenia · History and transmission
One work, two eras, one shared passion
From Jean-Jules Linden’s Iconography of Orchids to its facsimile re-edition and distribution today, discover the story of Lindenia.
Jean-Jules Linden, the botanist
A botanist, explorer and horticulturist, Jean-Jules Linden devoted much of his career to studying and documenting orchids.
Pescatorea, an earlier work
Before Lindenia, Jean Linden published Pescatorea – Iconography of Orchids, a separate work devoted to orchids.
The beginning of Lindenia
Publication of Lindenia – Iconography of Orchids begins in Ghent as a monthly review in French. The work combines botanical descriptions with colour lithographic plates.
An ambitious botanical publication
The original work was published in Ghent under the direction of Jean-Jules Linden, Lucien Linden and Émile Rodigas. It was completed in 1906, after more than twenty years of publication, in 17 volumes.
A partly English-language version
A version partly in English was published from February 1891 to July 1898.
The French facsimile re-edition
Jean-Michel Veillard gathered copies of the original work and undertook its facsimile re-edition. The French edition was published in five chronological volumes.
The complete English-language edition
In 1994, Jean-Michel Veillard decided to publish the first complete English translation of Lindenia, translated by Naturalia Publications and issued as an original English-language edition.
The story continues
After Naturalia Publications was sold, Jean-Michel Veillard kept the remaining copies of Lindenia and continues to distribute them personally to enthusiasts, collectors and institutions.
The iconography of orchids
Botanical descriptions and 814 colour plates
Text accompanies each plate, giving the Latin identification of the species, bibliographical references and a description of the plant, including where it was discovered, how it was collected and acclimatised, and how it was distributed.
The illustrations depict species collected in tropical forests and cultivated in collectors’ greenhouses. The images below offer a glimpse of the botanical illustrations in the original work.
These images are shown for documentary purposes. Original plates are not offered separately.
Continue exploring
Rediscover Lindenia in five volumes
The facsimile re-edition brings the work together in a five-volume collection.
Discover the five volumes →Enquiries
Contact Jean-Michel Veillard
For questions about the remaining copies or their distribution, you can contact him directly.
Email Jean-Michel Veillard →