Lot of 3 copper engravings. Pierre Richer de Belleval 1564 – November 17, 1632, was a French botanist. He is considered the father of scientific botany. Richer de Belleval published a catalog of the garden in 1598 and a French treatise in 1605, recommending an inquiry into the native plants of Languedoc. This last was accompanied by plates, intended as a specimen of a future work, for which he subsequently prepared a number of engravings, rude in execution but exhibiting many rare species. He did not live to publish these and the plates remained neglected in the hands of his family. The plates were finally published much later, in 1796 after Gilibert obtained the plates. The genus Bellevalia Lapeyr, in the family Asparagaceae, is named in honour of him. Early manuscript description in pencil to one plate. Recent hand colour. Very good condition. Minor marginal wear.