Prodromus Florae Norfolkicae Sive, Catalogus stirpium quae in insula Norfolk annis 1804 et 1805 a Ferdinando Bauer collectae et depictae, nunc in Museo caesareo palatino rerum naturalium Vindobonae servantur

An early nineteenth‑century naturalist set foot on Norfolk Island, then a remote British outpost, and spent several months wandering its forests and cliffs. During that time Ferdinand Bauer, celebrated for his precision in botanical illustration, gathered and painted a remarkable array of native plants, from delicate ferns to striking orchids. The resulting catalogue records the flora he encountered in 1804‑05, offering a snapshot of an ecosystem that has since changed dramatically.

The volume presents each species with a careful Latin description followed by one of Bauer’s vivid hand‑coloured plates, preserving the original artistry of a master illustrator. Scholars and curious listeners alike will appreciate the blend of scientific detail and visual charm, as well as the insight it provides into early colonial botany and the painstaking work of documenting new worlds. This historical compendium invites you to explore Norfolk Island’s botanical heritage through the eyes of an early explorer‑artist.