The Excellent Woman as Described in the Book of Proverbs

London: Religious Tract Society, c1850. Leather. Good. 5.5" by 4". Not Stated. - Anne Pratt was one of the Victorian age's most prominent botanical illustrators, publishing many books relating to her work during her lifetime. Arguably the most successful of these was 'The Flowering Plants, Grasses, Sedges, and Ferns of Great Britain and Their Allies the Club Mosses, Pepperworts, and Horsetails', which was a six-volume work published over ten years. Though she's never received academic acclaim due to her being a self-taught woman, her work has inspired many towards a love for botany. Pratt only published two books during her life that weren't related to botany and nature, 'The Excellent Woman as Described in Proverbs', and 'Our Native Songsters'. With a frontispiece, illustrated title page, and a further twenty-three plates. In the original full morocco binding with gilt decorations to the boards and spine. Externally, sound. Rubbing has caused slight loss to the spine and to the extremities. Marking has caused some minor discolouration to the rear board, with a very small mark to the front board. Front hinge is starting but remains firm. Evidence of lacking the front endpaper. Minor mark to the rear pastedown. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are bright with just a touch of age-toning to the egdes of pages, and are generally bright, with the odd spot and handling mark throughout. Plate between pages 20 and 21 is loose but present. Plate between pages 86 and 87 is lifting but remains firm. Plate between pages 94 and 95 is loose but present. Offsetting to some pages due to plates. Good