Basilius Besler, Hortus Eystettensis

Hortus Eystettensis (‘The Garden of Eichstätt’) is a landmark in botanical illustration. At the time, it was the largest and most detailed text on plants ever made. Commissioned by the Prince Bishop of Eichstätt in Bavaria, the book catalogues the plants growing in his palace garden as they bloomed throughout the seasons. It contains 367 hand-coloured engravings, including Helleborus niger (black hellebore), the ingredient Harry Potter forgot to add to his Draught of Peace.