Digitizing Project: Smith Manuscript

SMITH, MRS. D. E.

THE FRUITS OF THE LIMA MARKET. BY MRS.. D.E. SMITH, BETWEEN THE YEARS 1850 & 1853

Peru, 1850-1853

Click here to see the video of this manuscript complete with Peruvian music.

Manuscript comprises: title-page in pencil; 30 watercolors all measuring approximately 14 ¾ x 21 1/8 inches (one is a folding leaf measuring 30 ½ x 20 ¼ inches)bearing botanical names in pencil; three blank leaves. Each drawing has been mounted onto a leaf with a manuscript label bottom center, presumably in the hand of the artist, identifying the fruit and the height of the tree. Bookplate: “Crewe Hall/Inferior Sequor Nec.” Bound in three-quarter green morocco and green cloth. Spine tooled in gilt. Spine height: 21 inches.

Cover
Title page
Frontispiece
Spondias purpurea
Prospis dulcis
Citrus limonium
Cucurrbita citrullus
Citrus decumana
Malpighia ntida (D.L.)
Psidium pyriferum (Lin.)
Jungulan nigra
Solanum variegatum
Opuntia Tuna
Campomanesia linatifolia
Anona muricata (lin)
Mangifera indica
Punica granatum
Citrus Bergaradia
Annona cherimolia
Cucumis
Laurus
Ananassa
Passiflora
Carica Papaya
Passiflora quadrangularis
Lucuma obovata
Citrus limica
Eryobothrya japoniea
Solanum
Musa Paradisiaca
Theobroma cacao
A pineapple

Help us solve the mystery of the identification of Mrs. Smith. It seems that Mrs. Smith brought her artwork to a Dr Lin in Lima. He may have been a botanist in Lima around 1850. This is referred to in her writing on the unfinished work on the pineapple. At some point, this manuscript found its way to England, in the library of Crewe Hall, as it has the bookplate. Hopefully by sharing this amazing work on the Internet we will learn more about Mrs. Smith.