Complete set of The Banksias now held by ANU Library

21 May 2018

The purchase of volumes two and three completes the Library’s limited-edition set

The ANU Library has recently obtained the final two volumes of The Banksias by award-winning botanical artist Celia Rosser (OAM). Accompanying text is by botanist Alexander George (AM), who is considered the authority on the Banksia plant genus. The purchase of volumes two and three completes the Library’s limited-edition set, having acquired volume one several years ago. Celia Rosser has kindly signed volumes two and three.

The Banksias took Rosser over 25 years to complete, with volume one being published in 1981, volume two in 1988, and the final volume published in 2000. The Banksias contains watercolour paintings of all 77 known banksia species at the time. These volumes are the largest books in the ANU Library’s collection, at 78cm tall. The large format allows for a high degree of detail in Rosser’s paintings, making them both scientifically useful as well as beautiful examples of botanical art.

The ANU Library is grateful to have received funding for the purchase from alumni through the ANU Fund.

Hancock Library will display all three volumes as part of our collection highlights series beginning in late May.