MALO, Charles.   GUIRLANDE DE FLORE.         Paris: Chez Janet, n.d.   (1815).          "Exquisite miniature paintings of popular florists' flowers of the period." (Sitwell, GREAT FLOWER BOOKS p. 117) These charming illustrations were painted by Pancrace Bessa, an accomplished French botanical artist who studied under both Van Spaendonck and Redouté, and provide delicate renderings of tulips, anemones, violets, lilies, roses, pinks, etc. There seem to be at least two versions of this title: one with the collation of xxxvi + 180 pp. and another, as in this copy, with vi + 216 pp., both versions with 15 color plates. This copy also appears slightly larger, being 14 x 8.3 cm as opposed to the 12 x 8 cm of the former version.   12mo (14 x 8.3 cm); vi + 216 pp. + engraved title framed by a hand-colored wreath + 15 plates with hand-colored stipple engravings.   Dunthorne 35; Sitwell; GREAT FLOWER BOOKS pg. 117.          Original pink paper covered publisher's boards with gilt tooled leather lettering piece on spine; extremities lightly bumped and nicked; scattered light foxing to text, one page with neatly repaired tear, but no loss of text; terminal blank removed. $350.00

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