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Art good enough to eat

November 19, 2011 / 2:27 PM EST / CBS News

National Agricultural Library

The USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection documents fruit and nut varieties developed by growers (or introduced by USDA plant explorers) around the turn of the 20th century. These technically-accurate paintings were used to illustrate USDA bulletins, yearbooks, and other publications distributed to growers and gardeners across America. The collection features 7,584 watercolor paintings, lithographs and drawings - including 3,807 images of apples.

At left: The "Arkansas Black" apple, painted by Royal Charles Steadman, 1921.

National Agricultural Library

Left: James Marion Shull's 1924 watercolor of the "Blacktwig" apple shows physiological damage from lesser cedar rust.

The paintings in the collection date from 1886 to 1942, with most created between 1894 and 1916.

National Agricultural Library

"Fall Pippin" apple. Watercolor by Ellen Isham Schutt (1905).

High-quality prints from the collection's images are a popular sale item.

National Agricultural Library

A "Ferdinand" apple. Watercolor by Royal Charles Steadman (1925).

National Agricultural Library

"Morgan's Christmas" apple. Watercolor by Ellen Isham Schutt (1912).

National Agricultural Library

"Henry Clay" apple. Watercolor by Royal Charles Steadman (1919).

National Agricultural Library

"Polly Eades" apple. Watercolor by Mary Daisy Arnold (1915).

National Agricultural Library

"Royal Limbertwig" apple. Watercolor by Ellen Isham Schutt (1905).

National Agricultural Library

Mary Daisy Arnold's 1917 watercolor painting of Chestnuts.

National Agricultural Library

"Hewes" crab apple. Watercolor by Mary Daisy Arnold (no date).

National Agricultural Library

"Jumbo" American cranberry. Watercolor by Mary Daisy Arnold (1914).

National Agricultural Library

"Valdepenas" grapes. Watercolor by Deborah Griscom Passmore (1902).

National Agricultural Library

Nectarines. Watercolor by Royal Charles Steadman (1914).

National Agricultural Library

"Rajabury" mangoes. Watercolor by Elsie E. Lower (1910).

National Agricultural Library

"Gandy" strawberries. Watercolor by Deborah Griscom Passmore (1898).

For more info:

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection, National Agricultural Library