Saturday, February 14 through
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Regenstein Center, Lenhardt Library

The intense beauty and exotic shapes of orchids fascinated Victorian explorers and inspired botanical illustrations of great artistry. Some of the finest examples will be on display during a special rare book exhibition at the Lenhardt Library from Saturday, February 14, through Sunday, April 19, 2015. The nineteenth-century passion for orchids is evident in the vibrant hand-colored engravings and lithographs that served as the scientific record of the day.

The display overlaps with the Chicago Botanic Garden’s second annual Orchid Show, a month-long event filling the Regenstein Center with colorful, fragrant blooms from February 14 to March 15. The display is part of the library’s collection of more than 600 orchid books, including orchid cultivation, taxonomy, history, and exploration to journals, children's books and rare books. Read more about the exhibition here.

Partial funding for this exhibition is provided by the Harriet Kay and Harold R. Burnstein Fund for Exhibits.