Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9963
    Looking for a special gift? Buy a print of this image.

    ‘The apple-service’ [Sorb apple]

    Date
    1755
    Creator
    George Edwards (1694 - 1773, British) , Ornithologist
    Object type
    Library reference
    38029
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 286mm
    width (print): 220mm
    Subject
    Biology
       > Botany
    Biology
       > Botany
          > Horticulture
    Content object
    nature
       > plant
    Description
    Botanical study of the sorb apple, fruit of the service tree (Sorbus domestica), showing fruit on the branch, a single specimen, a cut specimen and its seed.

    Plate 211 from chapter 1 of Gleanings of natural history, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants, &c..., by George Edwards, volume 1 (London, for the author, 1758). Described by Edwards in his accompanying text thus: “This fruit is here represented of its natural bigness: it grows in clusters, or bunches, from three to seven or eight fruits in a bunch. Each separate fruit appears like a little yellowish green apple, tinged with red, on the side which is exposed to the Sun. They are sprinkled with small rising brown spots all over the rind, and have hollow crowns, like apples...”.

    The plate is inscribed: “SORBUM. The Greater Servis of Sorbe-apple, in French Corme. Drawn from Nature of natural bigness. Geo.Edwards Del: et Sculp. AD. 1755”.
    Associated place
    Powered by CollectionsIndex+/CollectionsOnline