(SOLLY,
Geo. A. & Son). GALE, Wm. F. DESIGNS FOR FLOWER BEDS. Wm. F. Gale,
Florist And Landscape Gardener, Assistant. Springfield, Mass.: Geo. A.
Solly & Son, 1887.
A scarce and unusual American
work on carpet bedding, first published in 1877. Produced for promotional
purposes by the Massachusetts ornamental horticulture firm of Geo. A. Solly
& Son., this unusual pattern book presents a series of drawings of ornamental
carpet or flower beds, complete with planting lists. In their preface the
authors asserted that this was "the first and only publication entirely devoted
to fancy flower bed designs" In the context of American gardening publications,
this appears to be correct. Following brief instructions on laying out,
planting and maintaining the beds there appears a series of 92 monochrome
designs of varying complexity, some printed full page, others printed in
groups of two to four per page, and a series of nine full-page color printed
designs. One plan, though planted with coleus, is set up as a maze. There
are designs in the form of butterflies, a compass, etc., but most are geometric,
including some with a distinctly American feel. The color palette called
for is invariably strong, with colors for the plants indicated as "Metalic
green," "golden yellow," "bright red," "grass green," "maroon," etc. The
color plate plan for "I" represents the design at the front of Horticultural
Hall in Fairmount Park during the summer of 1886. Hedrick/Woodburn pg. 568.
Oblong 8vo (20 x 25 cm); 56 ff. printed on rectos only, including 1 page
of letterpress, 92 printed monochrome designs and 9 full page plates printed
in colors. Original cloth with gilt title lettering on upper covers, some
rubbing away of gilt; a near fine copy.
$500.00
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