C Stuart Gager Appraisal

Les Roses by Pierre-Joseph Redouté (Text by C. Stuart Gager, Published by American Engraving Society)

The item is the title page of a publication titled "Les Roses" by the renowned botanical artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté. This specific edition features text by C. Stuart Gager, indicating it is likely a modern reprint or scholarly edition of Redouté's original work, rather than an original publication from the early 19th century. The page itself is printed on a cream or off-white paper, exhibiting slight discoloration or minor foxing, particularly visible in the upper left corner, suggesting age consistent with a mid-20th century publication or slightly older. The typography is crisp and dark, likely black ink. The title "Les Roses" is rendered in a large, elegant, and highly decorative blackletter-style script with elaborate calligraphic flourishes, serving as a prominent design element. The artist's name, "PIERRE-JOSEPH REDOUTÉ," is presented in a distinguished, serif typeface above the title. Below the main title block, details about the text author, C. Stuart Gager (noted as Ph.D. from Cornell University, Director of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and recipient of a 1941 medal), are printed, further dating this specific edition to at least after 1941. The publication details indicate "ANDRES, INC. NEW YORK" as American Distributors and "AMERICAN ENGRAVING SOCIETY PUBLISHERS," suggesting a focus on high-quality reproductions, likely engravings or lithographs, characteristic of Redouté's botanical illustrations. The overall clean layout and choice of typefaces convey a sense of classicism and quality craftsmanship, typical for significant art or botanical publications.