Gardening

Amsterdam: Michel Rey, 1780. Two [of five] volumes. Quartos, xvi, 264 & iv, 240. Each 'Tome' with an engraved vignette title and ninety-five engraved illustrations. Christian Hirschfeld (1742 - 1792), Enlightenment scholar and rationalist, is perhaps best known for this five volume work on gardens. Published in German as the 'Theorie der Gartenkunst' at the same time as this French edition, Hirschfeld attempted to delineate the garden with the scientific powers of his scholarship while still allowing a natural and essential sentimentality to remain. Feted as the man who introduced the 'English' garden to Scandinavia, this Kiel University professor devoted an enormous quantity of time and effort to this, his magnum opus. The work treats all aspects of the garden and is noteworthy for its descriptions of many of the finest European gardens of the day. Hirschfeld's scholarship did not cease here, however, for his chief aim was to depict the garden in its entirety, thus many of the illustrations are… Read More

London: Printed for W. Mears at the Lamb without Temple Bar, 1720. Three volumes bound as one. Thick octavos, 71+ 136 + 290 [2] pages. Third editions, corrected. [&] [2], xv, 124 pages. [2] leaves of plates. Illustrated, in all, with 11 engraved plates. Third edition, corrected. New Improvements and the Kalendar were often found bound together as such. Bradley (ca. 1688-1732) was an English botanist and gardener, appointed to be the first Professor of Botany at Cambridge University, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and the first to publish a pineapple recipe in English. Fussell (Old English Farming Books) provides Bradley an entire chapter, but only on the grounds that Bradley was the most prolific author of the period 1700-1730. Very good, with all plates present, rebound in modern half-calf, with raised bands and ornamented compartments. [Fussell, page 108].

Portland, Maine:: Rebecca Goodale,, 2010.. Edition of 5. 8.375 x 27.25" closed, extends to 82". Cutouts and pop-up structure. Handcolored silkscreen prints. Bound in cloth with ribbon tie closures. Title tipped on cover. Signed and numbered by the artist. By using the top blue loop (one of the ribbon tie closures), the book can be hung vertically for a cascading display. Clematis continues Goodale's Threatened and Endangered series in a broad sense. Clematis has been classified as a rare plant by the state of Maine. Their first two classifications for plants are those that are imperiled, which are the plants that Goodale usually includes in her series. The rare classification indicates the lack of sightings in Maine (20-100 occurrences).  Rebecca Goodale: "My newest book is a tall, cascading book representing the genus Clematis. I drew from two plants, one was Maine's rare Clematis occidentalis. The other was Clematis alpina, which I drew while visiting… Read More

A Paris: Chez Charles Osmont, ruë Saint Jacques, à l'Ecu de France, 1716. Early Reprint. Full Calf. Fine. New, revised and enlarged edition (Augmentée de la Culture des Melons, de la maniere de taillerles Arbres Friutiers, d'in Dictionnaire des termes dont fe fervent les Jardiniers en parlant des Arbres, & d'une Table des Matieres), of the most famous French manual on gardening. Complete in two quarto volumes. [8],16,23[i. e., 32],[8],666[84 misnumbered 80],[4], with 12 copper-engraved plates (2 folding), mostly of pruning patterns and tools; [12],562,[30]pp, with one plate and woodcuts in text of both volumes. Each section (six main books on fruit and kitchen gardens, treatise on oranges and reflection on agriculture) begins with a large engraved vignette and historiated initial. Contemporary speckled calf, spine richly gilt in six compartments between raised bands, brown morocco lettering piece gilt, edges speckled red, plain period end papers, title page with woodcut vignette. A superb set,… Read More

Amsterdam: Marcus Doornick, 1675. Early Reprint. Vellum. Sammelband of key gardening and husbandry texts, complete with all plates showcasing seventeenth-century garden design. Three titles in one quarto volume, including Den Nederlandtsen Hovenier, the most influential horticultural manual from the golden age of Dutch garden design with an impressive collection of woodcuts depicting hundreds of intricate garden layouts. Bound in contemporary vellum and printed in Roman and italic letter. I. Den Nederlandtsen Hovenier: [30],96,[2]pp (p. 96 misnumbered 69), with additional engraved title page, 15 full-page plates, 200 models of gardens (introduced by separate letterpress title page, p. 41), and woodcut illustrations in text. II. Nyland, Den Verstandigen Hovenier (Amsterdam: Marcus Doornick, 1672): 76,[4]pp, with large title-page vignette of country estate and gardens and 30 woodcut models of parterres. III. Nyland, De Medicyn-Winckel (Amsterdam: Marcus Doornick [n. d., but probably 1670]), to which is… Read More

London: Printed by Stephen Couchman, For W. Curtis, 1793. First edition thus. Leather. Very Good. 1st edition, thus. Volume 1 only. A Very Good copy. 8vo., with engraved frontispiece and 40 hand coloured plates. Bound in half red morocco and marbled paper over boards, with title on spine in gilt. 3 front blank end papers, 5 blank rear end papers. Handsome bookplate. Boards lightly rubbed, spine more so. Front paste down foxed. Frontispiece dampstained, transferring to a lesser degree to the title page. Text and plates generally clean, with occasional off-setting and a dot of foxing. A Very Good copy. *** Originally issued in monthly parts, each consisting of three plates and accompanying letterpress text: this edition a reprint in annual volumes. Text leaves are bound facing the plates they describe and numbered to correspond to that plate. Drawings for the plates were made by: James Sowerby, Sydenham Edwards and Francis Sansom; coloring supervised by William Graves.*** Bookplate of known book… Read More

Very good copy of the first volume of Andrews' magnus opus, with 72 stunning botanical plates.Title page dated 1797, but preface dated 1799. Complete with 72 copperplates drawn, engraved, published and hand-coloured by Henry Andrews himself, printed in black or green ink and heightened with gum arabic.Volume 1 only in a series of 10 volumes with 664 plates published from 1797 to 1814 as the first serious rival to William Curtis' Botanical Magazine. Andrews stated that it was his intent to introduce new and rare plants "as have not hitherto appeared in any similar publication." This volume has herbs and shrubs from Mexico, South America, the West Indies, South Africa, Japan, Madeira, and many other exotic locations.The distinctive plates are dynamic and elegant, with brilliant and vibrant hand-colour by Andrews himself. Printed in green ink, many look like water-colour paintings rather than engravings. The image fills the page, with some trimmed right up to the plate mark.With botanical descriptions in… Read More

Very good copy of the fifth volume of Andrews' magnus opus, with 72 stunning botanical plates.Title page and frontispiece undated, but many plates dated 1803.Complete with 72 copperplates drawn, engraved, published and hand-coloured by Henry Andrews himself, printed in black or green ink and heightened with gum arabic.Volume 5 only in a series of 10 volumes with 664 plates published from 1797 to 1814 as the first serious rival to William Curtis' Botanical Magazine. Andrews stated that it was his intent to introduce new and rare plants "as have not hitherto appeared in any similar publication." This volume has herbs and shrubs from the Cape of Good Hope, the Malabar coast (India), New Holland (Australia), the West Indies and many other exotic locations.The distinctive plates are dynamic and elegant, with brilliant and vibrant hand-colour by Andrews himself. Printed in green ink, many look like water-colour paintings rather than engravings. The image fills the page, with some trimmed right up to the… Read More

Lovely copy of this infamous and rare botanical by a woman artist.Henrietta Maria Moriarty turned to botanical illustration to support her four children after being left in debt by her no-good, late husband in 1804.Complete with all 50 hand-coloured copperplate engravings, dedication to Dowager Lady de Clifford, preface, list of subscribers, index.While Moriarty claims to have "delineated" the plants, the "plates are in almost every case adapted with slight alteration and no acknowledgement from Curtis' Botanical Magazine" (James Briteen, Journal of Botany, 1917.)The list of 174 subscribers includes many aristocrats, ladies and Army officers, perhaps introduced by the dedicatee, Sophia Southwell, Lady de Clifford (1743-1828), who was a keen amateur gardener and botanical artist herself. She collected many rare and exotic plants at her glasshouses in Kings Weston, Nyn Park and Dudley Grove.Mrs. Henrietta Maria Moriarty (1781-1842), widow of Col. Matthew Moriarty, turned to writing and book illustration… Read More

Millais, John Guille Rhododendrons and the various Hybrids.Rare Complete 2 volume matching set (series 1 and series 2) of thislimited (only 550 copies of this book have been printed) and numbered first edition.1th Series;The first series is numbered 381London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1917, folio (42 x 32 cm)Original maroon red cloth, rebacked retaining original spine, gilt letters on front and spine, protective tissue guard on every plate.xi + 268 pp, frontispiece coloured plate, title page, with 17 (fs incl) coloured plates by miss Beatrice Parsons, miss Winifred Walker, miss E.F. Brennand and Archibald Thorburn, 14 collotype plates and numerous illustrations from photographs. 2nd Series;The second series is numbered 534 London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1924 , folio (42 x 32 cm)Original maroon red cloth, rebacked retaining original spine, gilt letters on front and spine, protective tissue guard on every plate.xii + 265 pp, frontispiece coloured plate, title page, with 17 (fs incl) coloured plates by… Read More

8° grande (mm 235x158); cc. (2), pp. 129, (1), c. (1) [bianca]. Legata a sinistra del frontespizio, una tavola calcografica ripiegata - su disegno di "Ronzoni" e incisa da "Mugnon" - raffigurante una villa veneta con il suo giardino: Villa Buri a S. Michele (https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Bernini_Buri). Qualche fioritura, tuttavia bell'esemplare, intonso, nell'originale brossura editoriale (con titolo Operette di vari autori intorno ai Giardini Inglesi ossia moderni con una tavola in rame).Editio princeps. Written by Ippolito Pindemonte (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ippolito_Pindemonte), a letterato fascinated by English culture, the Dissertation on the English Gardens is "the first Italian critical intervention on the irregular garden".All'importante Dissertazione del Pindemonte e alla sua Appendice fanno seguito il Saggio sopra l'indole dei Giardini moderni - di Luigi Mabil - letto all'Accademia di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti di Padova nell'anno 1796, due Relazioni di Melchiorre Cesarotti… Read More

Brooklyn: A. Spooner & Co., 1846. Scarce first edition of this early tract on American grape growing & wine-making. Vermont-born, Spooner was a printer & editor in Long Island before establishing himself in Brooklyn around 1811, where he was active in building up the city; he was also involved in local politics and a Colonel in the county militia. After some failures in land speculation, he returned his attention to publishing. Here he relates his experiences in growing grapes, mostly of the Isabella and Catawba varieties, and of making wine, along with other information on grape varieties & cultivation. Spooner was well-enough known for his work with the Isabella variety, then popular in Long Island (and for a half-century or so, until superseded by the Concord), that he was asked for an article for The Cultivator, an Albany paper, which Spooner reprinted in his own paper in 1838. With demand for the information persisting, he published this small book on his experiences. Spooner died… Read More

Oxford, printed by William Hall, for Amos Curteyne, 1665.. TITLE CONTINUED: Whereunto is annexed, observations upon SIR. FRANCIS BACONS NATURAL HISTORY as it concerns fruit-trees, fruits, and flowers. Also, directions for planting of wood for building, fuel, and other uses; whereby the value of lands may be much improved in a short time, with small cost and little labour. The third impression, revised, with additions, by Ra. Austen, practiser in the art of planting, 1665. 2 works bound together each with its own title page and pagination, as often found, dedicated to Robert Boyle. Small 8vo approximately 145 x 95 mm, 5¾ x 3¾ inches, a few woodcut headpieces and initials, pages: [48], 1-260, [10], 1-82, the vertically printed half title present, bound in full early calf, 2 gilt lettered labels and gilt decoration to spine, double gilt rules and blind decoration to edges of covers, marbled edges. Spine rubbed, hinges beginning to crack, covers still firmly attached, labels slighty… Read More

1623. first complete edition. Fine. 15 19 1.5. Brown leather binding with red title plate, raised banding and gilt lettering on the spine. Embossed "Cambridge panel" on both boards. In a newly made presentation box.

PLUS: added first edition on the Husbandry of Bees.

PLUS: added first edition on the Propagation of Plants.

The first edition of "A New Orchard and Garden", which included "The Country Housewifes Garden" appeared in 1618; many further editions appeared over the period to 1695. The "Art of Propagating Plants" and "The Husband Mans Fruitful Orchard" appeared in all editions from 1623.

 Please remember that an old or antique book is not necessary valuable just because it’s old. Common books like the works of William Shakespeare, prayer books, bibles and encyclopedias were printed in huge quantities during the Victorian era and usually have little value.

KEY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE BOOK VALUE

Age can be important, if before 1800; so, 17th century, 16th century, and 15th century… Read More

London, printed for John Wright, 1578.. TITLE CONTINUED: with the antiquitie, and commendations thereof. Newely English, and increased, by Barnabe Googe, Esquire. SECOND ENGLISH EDITION 1578, translated by Barnabe Googe, first published in 1577. 8vo, approximately 190 x 130 mm, 7½ x 5 inches. LACKS ALL 11 leaves of PRELIMS, TEXT STARTS ON PAGE 1, TITLE PAGE AND FINAL 2 LEAVES IN FACSIMILE, GATHERING F (8 LEAVES i.e. pages 41-48) INSERTED FROM A SMALLER BLACK LETTER COPY. Full page woodcut armorial coat of arms on verso title page, small text illustration on verso page 130, and a few pictorial initials, mostly printed in black letter. Leaves: 1-193 [1], some mispagination, collation and all catchwords correct, printed side notes, the last 2 leaves in facsimile: 1 on bees, the other on Olde English Rules for Purchasing Land, Colophon on verso, rebound in pale brown buckram at sometime, gilt title and date to spine, new cream endpapers, edges stained red. First leaf damaged at head and repaired with… Read More