Johann Christoph Volkamer

Johann Christoph Volkamer (June 7, 1644 – August 26, 1720) was a German merchant, manufacturer and botanist.

Johann Christoph Volkamer (also: Volcamer, Volckamer, Volkammer, Volcameris) was the son of the physician Johann George Volkamer. He was occupied by hobby with the botany and maintained a garden in the today's Nurembergian Gostenhof district. He published 1708-1714 a two volume work over citrus under the title "Nurenbergische Hesperides, the thorough description of the noble Citron, used in within and neighbouring area, praised Lemon, and Orange fruits, like such, be received and carried away, velvet of a detailed dicription of most sorts, which some were brought to Nuremberg actually grown, others by different strange places there... "

In Volkamers time one saw the "Goldenen of apples in the citrus fruits Hesperides" the Greek mythology. Starting from late 17th Century developed a collecting passion for instance at the aristocracy, with which each tried to exceed the other one with the rarest and monsterious fruits.

With this work the term became "Hesperides" to the symbol for the flowering Nurembergian garden culture, those for instance lasted from 1650 on, up to the end 18th Century.

In Volkamers book he illustrated also Nurembergian landscapes, city opinions and above all gardens of the city, become in beside the Citrus plants and their fruits illustrated by engraving.

He is said to be influenced from the work of Giovanni Baptista Ferrari.

• Nürnbergische Hesperides, Oder Gründliche Beschreibung Der Edlen Citronat- Citronen- und Pomerantzen-Früchte..., Nürnberg 1708, Nachdruck Zirndorf 1978.
• Obeliscus Constantinopolitanus oder kurtze Erklärung des zu Constantinopol auf der Renn-Bahn stehenden, nun aber auch in der nürnbergischen Vorstadt Gostenhof nachgehauenen und aufgerichteten Obelisci, Nuremberg 1713, Nachdruck Nuremberg 1985.
• Continuation der Nürnbergischen Hesperidum, Oder Fernere gründliche Beschreibung der edlen Citronat-, Citronen- und Pomerantzen- Früchte, mit einem ausführlichen Bericht, wie solche am besten zu warten und zu erhalten seyn; woher diejenigen Sorten, so theils in Nürnberg gewachsen, theils von verschiedenen fremden Orten dahingelangt..., Nuremberg 1714.