Financial success was not found, but he went on the publish The Botanical Magazine in 1787, a work that would also feature hand coloured plates by artists such as James Sowerby and Sydenham Edwards.

Though he did provide illustrations to Flora Londinensis, his association with Curtis seems to have ended by 1777, 10 years before the first publication of the Botanical Magazine)[3] Curtis was to gain wealth from the ventures into publishing, short sales on Londinensis were offset by over 3,000 copies of the magazine.

Curtis might be the editor of an exsiccata-like series Hortus siccus gramineus, followed up by the series Hortus siccus gramineus or a collection of dried specimens of British grasses with their Latin and English names... (1802-1806), distributed by William Salisbury.

The noted natural history illustrators, James Sowerby and Sydenham Edwards both found a start with the eminent magazine.

[5] His headstone, now only partially remaining, had the epitaph: While living herbs shall spring profusely wild, Or gardens cherish all that's blithe and gay, So long thy works shall please, dear Nature's child, So long thy mem'ry suffer no decay.