The Early York Peach: The Fruits of America

Boston:: Hovey and Co.,, 1852-56.. First edition. Near Fine Condition- light spotting. . Fine Original Chromolithograph. Small Quarto (7.25 x 10.5 inches) . Includes original text. Inspired by national pride, and a desire to document the finest fruit cultivated in American soil, Charles Hovey's The Fruits of America is a fine tribute to both American Pomology and early color printing in America. Drawn from nature and printed by William Sharp and Son from as many as ten separate stones, this exceptional chromolithograph displays a subtle perfection which rivals that of any early color printing of the period, worldwide. Charles Mason Hovey (1810-1887) a Cambridge, Massachusetts nurseryman, founded the American Gardeners' Magazine in 1834- which became the Magazine of Horticulture- and was a founding member of several horticultural societies throughout New England and the Midwest. In addition to maintaining an extensive orchard of thousands of pear, apple and plum trees, Hovey is credited with cultivating one of the most popular and lucrative strawberries: the Hovey Strawberry which dominated the nineteenth century strawberry production in American. (Bennett 59, Oak Spring Pomona 61, Reese: Stamped with the National Character 20) .