London: Published by B.S. Williams, 1882-97. In 11 volumes. First edition. From the library of orchid breeder Oscar M. Kirsch. 4to. With half-titles. Illustrated with 528 lithographic plates by and after John Nugent Fitch on 527 sheets, partly hand-colored and partly color-printed; plus an uncolored portrait of Williams in the ninth volume. Volumes I-X bound in full green levant, decorated in gilt, gilt seal of Henry Arthur Johnstone on front board of each volume, front board of first volume detached, spines dry, rubbing and wear to joints; top edges gilt, other edges trimmed; pigskin endpapers with Johnstone's book-plate stamped in brown on front free endleaf of each; Vol. XI bound in publisher's brown cloth, stamped in black and in gilt; all edges trimmed; foxing to text and plates; half-title in first and tenth volume sprung; scattered soiling. Great Flower Books, p. 80; Nissen BBI 2107; Stafleu & Cowan TL2 6282

First edition of this important 19th century record of all the greatest orchid varieties. In the obituary for Benjamin S. Williams included in the ninth volume the purpose of the work is described: "In 1881 he commenced his magnum opus, the Orchid Album, which was projected with the idea of supplying a demand for illustrations of Orchidaceous plants, with botanical descriptions of the plants figured, and notes on their cultivation ... Its appearance was hailed with great satisfaction in horticultural circles throughout the world, and it numbers among its subscribers nearly all lovers of Orchids and many of our leading and most influential horticulturalists." 

Oscar M. Kirsch was an award-winning orchid breeder well known in the orchid world. He registered hundreds of orchid hybrids and won multiple gold and silver awards at international
orchid events for his orchids, including the Royal Horticultural Society’s Westonbirt Gold Medal in 1961. He was a speaker at four World Orchid Conferences and an original member of the International Orchid Commission on Registration and Nomenclature. He served as President of the Pacific Orchid Society and was an active member of many other orchid societies. The American Orchid Society awarded him the Silver Medal of Merit in 1988 for his service and contributions to the orchid world.

Mr. Kirsch received his early training at the municipal plant nurseries of Vienna, the Austrian State Horticultural School, and the gardens of Baron Alfons Rothschild at the Hohe Warte in Vienna. He immigrated to the United States in 1924 and rounded out his experience at horticultural establishments including the Julius Roehrs Company in New Jersey, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in Boston, and Armacost and Roysten in Los Angeles. Mr. Kirsch moved to Hawaii in 1933 to manage the famous orchid collection of Frank C. Atherton and to continue his hybridization work. After Mr. Atherton’s death 14 years later, Mr. Kirsch opened his own orchid business and sold orchids to collectors around the world. He operated his orchid business in Hawaii until his retirement in the 1980s.