Paris: Éditions Vincent Fréal & Cie, 1955. First edition. A useful compilation of illustrations from early engravings, plans, drawings and contemporary photographs of important French gardens from the 15th through the early 17th centuries. Multiple views of Blois, Chenonceaux, Chambord, Fontainebleau, Anet, Vallery, Monceaux-Les-Meaux, Rosny, Saint-Germain-En-Laye and Richelieu are included accompanied by a short descriptive text. 4to (27.2 x 22 cm); 47 + (ii) pp. + 239 black and white plates from drawings, engravings, plans, photographs, etc.

(New York). The printed catalogue of an orchid sale to be held on Wednesday, September 11, 1889, at Rolker & Sons sales room by order of Frederick Mau of Weehawken, New Jersey. The sale was comprised of "25 Grand and distinct Varieties of Cattleya Trianae with flower sheaths, C. Trianae Alba, C. Bogotensis Alba, Saccolabium giganteum Album," and much more. There are 326 lots listed, some with a bit of description, such as: CYPRIPEDIUM SEEGERIANUM: "Hybrid between Cypripedium Harrisianum and Cypripedium Spicerianum; only in a few collections can this superb Cypripedium be found..." Nineteenth century orchid auction catalogues are quite uncommon. Stitched pamphlet 22 x14.5 cm.,18 pp.

Paris: Librairie Horticole de H. Cousin, 1844. First edition. An uncommon handbook on the propagation of heath plants by seed, layering and cutting, for cultivation in temperate climates, in the orangerie and in the open heath. Pacquet, was a gardener, secretary of the Cercle général d'horticulture and editor of the JOURNAL D'HORTICULTURE PRATIQUE. Acknowledging Great Britain as the prolific source for heathers, Paquet proceeds to a descriptive list of over six hundred varieties, followed by chapters on cultivating varieties of azalea and rhododendrum. Chapters on older and newer varieties of camellias follow, with over 125 in a descriptive listing. The text concludes with kalmias and epicris. Erica, Azalea, Rhododendrum, Camellia... 12mo (17.6 x 10.6 cm); xx + 339 + (1) pp. + 4 pp. ads. with a small engraved text illustrations.

Davenport, Iowa, (1909). A history, by way of official minutes, of the Davenport city parks, including accounts of the use of Central Park and the acquistion and use of Fejervary Park. With 16 full page photographs of entrance ways, lakes, the greenhouse, the Inn at Fejervary, terraces, etc. and three of animals at the park including the Cinnamon Bears, Teddy and Carrie. Stapled pamphlet (8vo), 23.5 x 5.5 cm., 36 ff. with text and full page illustrations from photographs printed on rectos only.

(Kansas City, 1906). With a ten-page report prepared by George Kessler, the city's landscape architect. Kessler designed the first park system for Kansas City in 1893. This is the first commission report since that year, and most of Kessler's report recounts the progress made on the city's parks during the intervening period. 8vo (23.4 x 15.5 cm); 72 pp. with numerous half-tone illustrations + folding map and folding chart.

(Colorado): n.d. ( ca. 1900 ). A very well preserved souvenir album of collected Colorado wild flowers bound in a hand-painted, ribbon-tied binding. Below each of the twelve preserved specimens the plant’s popular name, botanical name and a reference (Torrey, Gray, etc) are hand-written in pen. We have seen similar, though not identical bindings for botanical collecting in Colorado, suggesting that these (blank) notebooks were available to tourists hiking the fields, meadows, etc. 19.2 x 10.7 cm; 12 leaves of heavy stock with mounted natural specimens and hand-written identifications on rectos only.

Berlin, Freidrich Nicolai, 1778, (1991). Facsimile reprint of this 18th century guide book to the royal gardens at Rheinsberg located northwest of Berlin. 12mo (17 x 10 cm); 95 pp. + folding plan of the garden loosely inserted.

London: J. Hatchard and Son, 1828. First edition. The unidentified author of this little instruction manual acknowledges his indebtedness to a French pamphlet ( see Stock reference to Tarade, Alfred de, CULTURE DES ROSIERS ECUSSONES SUR EGLANTIERS ). This is a very detailed horticultural instruction manual which, in reprinting its 1830 second edition in 1844, the GARDENER’S CHRONICLE identified as “the best work on the cultivation of the tree rose...” (see Stock 2280 and 2281). d With a signature in pencil, “J.C. Loudon” on front flyleaf. J.C. Loudon’s copy? Stock 2279 12mo (17.5 x 10 cm); xv + (i) + (1)-91 +(3) pp. with 24 text figures, decorative vignette on title page.

Paris: Librairie Renouard, n.d. (ca, 1900). A turn-of-the-century manual on floral decoration and floral arrangement for the private home. Various types of flowers and plants suitable to interior decoration and cultivation are discussed, along with appropriate vases, baskets, corsages, bouquets, etc. The decoration of windows and balconies is treated, as is the decoration of the table with seasonal fruits. Additionally, the choice of flowers and plants for different months of the year is noted, along with a choice of flowers to be used decoratively at religious feasts. A list of Parisian flower markets with their locations and days of operation is also included. 8vo (17.2 x 11 cm); 123 + (1) pp. with wood engraved text illustrations.

Paris, 1903. General illustrated catalogue from the most prominent French decorative iron foundry of the period. Of particular interest for the numerous examples of statuary, fountains, vases and other cast iron garden ornaments and furnishings which are illustrated by over 38 pages. The remainder of the catalogue is devoted to the full range of ornamental ironwork such as grills, columns, finials, staircase railings, moldings, mantels, lamp posts, crosses, religious statuary, etc. etc. Oblong 8vo (15.7 x 24.5 cm); 194 pp. (unnumbered).

Paris: Victor Masson et Fils, n.d. (ca, 1869). Extensive nursery catalogue for this prominent firm, formerly Jamin et Durand, located in Bourg-la-Reine near Paris. Fruit trees make up the largest selection, but there are also 17 pages of roses and 44 pages with priced listings for other ornamental trees and shrubs. In addition to catalogue listings there is a substantial general text covering propagation, pruning and espalier training followed by a 10-page chapter on the layout of parks and gardens. 8vo (23.6 x 15 cm); (4) + 265 pp. with occasional text illustrations.

London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, (1884). First edition thus. A very readable text on the nature, location, and rise of Cocos Nucifera - the Prince of Palms- as the foundation of the author’s family’s highly successful cocoanut fibre works, Messrs. Treloar & Sons. A “From Tree To Factory” story. With a handsome chromolithographed frontispiece reproducing a painting of the inflorescence of the cocoa nut palm and ripe nuts by the artist, Miss Fenn. OCLC lists 5 copies in the U.K.; 2 in Australia; 4 in the U.S. Tall 8vo (24.5 x 15.5 cm); color lithograph frontispiece by W.H. & L Collingridge City Press + 50 pp. with text illustrations and some full page plates.

Orleans: Imprimerie Georges Michau, 1892. A short descriptive account of the gardens of Vichy, France, written by the librarian of the horticultural society of Orleans after his recent visit there. Pamphlet, 8vo (24 x 15.5 cm); 8 pp.

Vienna: Verlag Von Carl Gerold's Sohn, 1896. The Villa Achilleion on the island of Corfu was built for the Empress Elisabeth of Austria in 1891. The house and its gardens were designed for her by Alexander von Warsberg, the Austrian consul in Corfu and one of the leading experts of his day on the history and art of ancient Greece. Achilleion, built upon a high mount with spectacular views of the Mediterranean, became for a short while an idyllic escape for the romantic and fanciful empress. Christomanos's effusive text describing the villa is accompanied by photographs of the house, gardens, interiors and extensive collection of statuary. Oblong 4to (24.6 x 32); 64 (+ 2) pp. with numerous illustrations + 13 color tinted plates from photographs.

n.p: 1978. Number 10 of 100 copies of this limited edition silk-screen print, signed by the noted natural history artist, John Tennent. A large and lovely late 20th century interpretation of the famous White Garden at Sissinghurst created by the author-plantswoman Vita Sackville-West. The image shows the clock tower, the abundance of white flowered and grey and soft green leaved plants and, as a focal point, the stunning sculpture, Vestal Virgin, cast in lead from the wooden sculpture by the Croatian artist Toma Rosandic. An artist’s interpretation of the “White Garden” 55. 5 x 38 cm with image impression at 44.4 x 31 cm.