London: The Religious Tract Society, n.d. (ca. 1845). Botanical instructions for the young in the form of a dialogue between mother and child. These instructions are for a fairly well read child and progress as one advances up the steps of a ladder. With text figures or sketches. 12mo (14.2 x 9 cm); engraved frontispiece of mother and child out botanizing, (ii) + 176 pp. with engraved text figures of plants or plant parts.

London: Stead's Publishing House, 1909. A charmingly illustrated little work which recounts the experiences of the two authors "who started a French market-garden a year ago with a small capital, two acres of raw field and a year's training in French Gardening, but up to then no horticultural experience whatever." with costs and prices for produce. 16mo (17.2 x 10.8 cm); 160 pp. with occasional line drawings in text (+ 8 pp ads).

London: "Country Life" 1903. The original edition of a first hand account of the creation, at the hands of English expatriates, of what would become a legendary Venetian garden, giardino eden, on La Guidecca in the Venetian lagoon. Located behind the Redentore, this one-time vegetable patch was transformed by Frederic (great uncle of the Prime Minister, Sir Anthony Eden) and Carolyn Eden ( the sister of Gertrude Jekyll) into a little English pleasure ground of pollarded willows, roses, Madonna lilies, irises, etc. beginning in 1884. While importing their own native tastes, the Edens took care to respect the local character of their grounds, " Building on formal lines made by the canals, an abandoned orchard had been crossed with straight walks covered by 600-700 yards of square-topped vine-clad pergola." (Festing, S. GERTRUDE JEKYLL p. 154). Traditional structures and ornaments were used. Eden includes an interesting account of well-making on the island and in the garden. The prominence of the Edens in the expatriate community brought notable guests to the garden, as did the caché of later residents such as Princess Aspasia of Greece and her daughter and son-in-law, the King and Queen of Yugoslavia. Henry James, Anna de Noailles, Maurice Barres and Jean Cocteau are also associated with the spot. D'Annunzio set a scene there in his IL FUOCO. In LES DELICES DE L'ITALIE, Jean Louis Vaudoyer calls the garden "the most alluring place in the world to abandon oneself to melancholy." (as quoted in Weal, M.T., POSTFACE; A GARDEN IN VENICE ). The garden was locked up after the death of its last occupant, but garden historian John Hall obtained entrance and wrote a description for HORTUS, Autumn 2003. Small 4to (23 x 18 cm); (vi) +135 + (1) pp. with decorative head and tail pieces, initial letters and text figures, from older engravings, including some from the Dream of Polyphilis, + frontispiece and 16 full page illustrations from photographs, with tissue guards, hors texte.

London: for Tho. Woodward, 1726. First edition. Laurence's "most ambitious literary project..." (Henrey p. 421). With a handsome etched frontispiece by van de Gucht showing the Prince of Wales's Richmond Lodge or Ormonde Lodge. The work is dedicated to the Princess of Wales, later Queen Caroline to George II, who would eventually improve Richmond Lodge with Charles Bridgeman.. The lodge no longer exists. (Henrey,p. 421 ). Laurence (sometimes spelled Lawrence), who bears the distinction of having written the first original eighteenth century treatise on gardening, THE CLERGY-MAN'S RECREATION, 1714, was rector at Yelverton in Northhamptonshire where he turned an unpromising patch into a thriving fruit garden over the course of 20 years. The first book in this ambitious work concerns every aspect of agriculture from dung to brickmaking. Book II describes the characteristics and uses of a great variety of forest trees, timber trees, evergreens and flowering shrubs, all suitable for growing in England without "housing". Book Three is about the subject for which the author is perhaps best known, fruit culture. Book IV : the kitchen garden. Book V is devoted to the flower garden and includes "A complete catalogue of Flowers great and small perannual (sic) or annual, usually known or propagated in England, either in the naked Ground or Hotbed." With seven engraved printer's ornaments by Francis Hoffman. Henrey 945; Hunt 466; Johnson, A HISTORY OF ENGLISH GARDENING p. 156. Folio ( 34.4 x 21.2 cm); (xxiv) + 456 (i.e. 452) pp. + etched frontispiece + 2 copperplate engravings (with 3 impressions); with 7 engraved printer's ornaments by F. Hoffman.

London: P. Vaillant, and W. Mears and F. Clay 1721. First English edition, translated, with additions, by Richard Bradley. "This was the first treatise on cuttings and graftings, and it made Agricola famous." (Hunt 452). Georg Andreas Agricola was a German doctor from Regensburg whose discoveries regarding plant propagation aroused significant interest at the beginning of the eighteenth century. In a book entitled NEU- UND NIE ERHÖRTER DOCH IN DER NATUR UND VERNUNFFT WOHLGEGEGRÜNDETER VERSUCH DER UNIVERSAL VERMEHRUNG ALLER BÄUME, STAUDEN UND BLUMEN-GEWÄCHSE (1716-1717) he first published details of his methods, including the use of a plaster he called "vegetable mummy," to refute exaggerated claims made about his discoveries by another writer. Bradley prepared this English translation and added to it his own preface as well as a translation of the preface from the French edition. The text is illustrated with copies of the plates from the original German edition. These plates depict examples of the regenerative process described by Agricola along with the grafting techniques, tools and structures employed in the various operations. In publishing Agricola's discoveries in England Bradley was doing what he seemed to do best: publicizing the latest horticultural advances and theories at a moment close to their inception. Hunt 452; Henrey 411 Royal 4to (27 x 22 cm); (xxiv) + 300 + (iv) pp. + 22 plates (some folding) with 34 engravings.

Paris: Vilmorin-Andrieux & Cie 1888. Second Edition. This thick catalogue assembles the vast collection of wood-engraved illustrations used by the Vilmorin-Andrieux firm in their seed catalogues and other publications. Electrotype printing blocks for all the images depicted could be ordered from the firm for use in illustrating retail seed and nursery catalogues. Instructions for ordering these are printed at the front in French, English and German. The numbered illustrations are printed on one side of the sheet only, "the other is intended for the illustrations which we may publish in the future and copies of which will be sent to all the purchasers of this album, to be pasted on the blank side corresponding to the numbers." Altogether at least 4000 images are included, the majority of which are devoted to flowers, although vegetables, herbs, trees, fruits, grasses, garden implements, etc. are also shown. The illustrations are accompanied by descriptions in French, English and German, and by prices in francs and sterling. OCLC gives only two North American locations for this edition and none for the first edition. 4to (27.2 x 21.7 cm); vi + 344 (+ xxiv index) + 345-744 pp. with over 4000 wood-engraved illustrations.

Paris: Vilmorin-Andrieux & Cie 1888. Second Edition. This thick catalogue assembles the vast collection of wood-engraved illustrations used by the Vilmorin-Andrieux firm in their seed catalogues and other publications. Electrotype printing blocks for all the images depicted could be ordered from the firm for use in illustrating retail seed and nursery catalogues. Instructions for ordering these are printed at the front in French, English and German. The numbered illustrations are printed on one side of the sheet only, "the other is intended for the illustrations which we may publish in the future and copies of which will be sent to all the purchasers of this album, to be pasted on the blank side corresponding to the numbers." Altogether at least 4000 images are included, the majority of which are devoted to flowers, although vegetables, herbs, trees, fruits, grasses, garden implements, etc. are also shown. The illustrations are accompanied by descriptions in French, English and German, and by prices in francs and sterling. 4to (27.2 x 21.7 cm); vi + 344 (+ xxiv index) + 345-744 pp. with over 4000 wood-engraved illustrations.

N.P. (Bruyères -Le-Chatel) (Simon Louis Frères & Cie.) ca. 1930. Quite a stunning presentation album of seed packet label samples with all the plants shown printed in full color against a black background. These are displayed, usually 6 to a page, on tan card stock printed decoratively in light gray with the monogram of the firm and simple frame outlines for the placement of the illustrations. Both vegetables and flowers are shown; the colors are vibrant and the detail, particularly with the vegetables, is both informative and artistic. All designs are labeled. If you want to be able to recognize all your French lettuces, you have only to study these. Unusual and very uncommon. Oblong album (26.5 x 36 cm); with color printed seed packet label designs tipped in to each of 70 unnumbered pages, usually 6 to a page, fewer on about 4 pages; in all, there are approximately 400 color printed labels, each measuring 9 x 5 cm.

(Brooklyn: Commissioners of Prospect Park) 1873. The first twelve annual reports of the Brooklyn Park Commissioners were brought together here as a single volume and re-issued by the Park Commissioners after the creation of Prospect Park had been essentially completed. The park was authorized by legislation in 1859 and the initial plans for it were prepared by Egbert Viele, a civil engineer who had also been involved in the initial planning for New York's Central Park. The first annual report for Brooklyn includes Viele's proposal for the design of the Prospect park along with his extensive topographical report on the site. The outbreak of the Civil War interrupted activity for four years. Near the end of this period Calvert Vaux was consulted on the plan and made several recommendations - most notably urging a shift in the boundaries - which resulted in his being appointed to prepare and execute a new plan for the park. He persuaded Frederick Law Olmsted to rejoin him on the project, and thus the firm of Olmsted and Vaux began work on Prospect Park in 1865. Their report describing their new plan for a park within the revised boundaries makes up nearly the entire text of the Sixth Annual Commissioners report. Reports for the six following years elaborate on the design and relate the progress made on the park as well work on other smaller parks in the city. Each of these includes a detailed report from Olmsted & Vaux. In the 12th report they declare their work on Prospect Park to be essentially complete. 8vo (22.7 x 14.4 cm); 528 pp. + 10 plans (9 folding, 8 hand-colored) + 9 tinted lithographic views (2 folding) + 9 additional engraved or lithographed plates.

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.

Paris: Librarie Horticole 1910. First edition. Forestier was in charge of the restoration of the gardens at Bagatelle located in the Bois de Boulogne. The text presents a history of the Chateau and its gardens from the 18th century up to their purchase by the city of Paris in 1905, and concludes with a 12 page chapter entitled "Quelques Idées Sur Les Jardins Modernes." 8vo (21 x 15 cm); 96 pp. (including 6 pp. ads) with occasional text illustrations (+ 22 additional pp. of ads at front and back) + 16 half-tone plates from early engravings, paintings and photographs.

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.

Yokohama: Yokohama Nursery Co., 1909.. The annual descriptive catalogue for 1909-10 issued by this prominent Japanese nursery, the most important exporter and popularizer of Japanese ornamental plants to the Western nursery trade at the turn of the century. It presents extensive listings in all categories of plants including: lilies; paeonia moutan and albiflora; iris kaempferi; camellias, azaleas, orchids; Japanese maples; magnolias; flowering cherries, bamboos, palms, dwarf trees, etc. One of the color lithographed plates shows designs of porcelain pots. The remaining color plates are of lilies, roses, magnolias, viburnum and kudzu vine. There are also reproductions of sketches for stone lanterns and baskets for floral arrangements. The rather poor quality black and white photographic reproductions nevertheless show informative views of the grounds and activities at the nursery. There is also a listing of books, "colored hand-paintings" lithographs, and mounted herbaria specimens for sale. OCLC locates 1 copy (U.S. National Agricultural Library) of this year of the catalogue. Stabbed and tied, Japanese style, (26 x 18 cm); (iv) + 98 (1) pp. with 6 color lithograph plates and with illustrations from sketches and photographs.

Leiden: Abraham Kallewier, Jan en Herman Verbeek, en Pieter vander Eyk 1737. First edition of this comprehensive Dutch treatise on the creation and management of country-house gardens. It was written and published anonymously by van der Voort, "the first garden theorist of the Netherlands... Concerned with small country-house canal gardens, he advocated, like Dezallier d'Argenville, simplicity of line and the subordination of art to nature, with trees, hedges, bosquets, and water forming the main components." (OXFORD COMPANION TO GARDENS, pg. 579). Der Voort was also a keen and astute pomologist and horticulturist. His work was highly regarded and was reprinted as late as 1766, as well as being translated into both French and German. The excellent plates which illustrate the work were engraved by Jan Wandelaar, J.C. Philips, J. van der Spyk and F. van Bleyswyck. Berlin Cat 3406; Springer pg. 42. 4to (25.5 x 19.5 cm); (v) + xix + 412 + (14) pp. + 15 folding engraved plates and 1 engraved text illustration.

Paris: n.d. (ca. 1950). An imaginative and charming advertising booklet promoting cactus collecting and cultivation with drawings printed in colors and hand-lettered text printed in brown ink. The text provides directions for replanting, for creating little "Japanese" gardens in tray arrangements, and for handling slips or cuttings and for sowing seeds. Prices are given for various sizes of cactus, for vases and pots, and for Japanese ornaments used in the tray gardens. Oblong 12mo (22.2 x 18.2 cm); 12 pp., including covers, printed and illustrated in colors.

Liége: Imprimerie De N. Redouté 1840. The catalogue lists 460 flowers exhibited at the Exposition and provides brief accounts of several concurrent meetings and official reports. 8vo (20 x 12.9 cm); 43 pp.

(Paris:) 1759. Second and enlarged edition of this complete catalogue of the plants growing in the Jardin Des Apothicaires in Paris. First published in 1741. In addition to being a major source of medicinal plants in the city, this important Parisian physic garden, whose origins dated to the late 16th century, was used extensively by medical students and botanists for the study of plants and herbs. The printed catalogue was compiled specifically as a guide for those students and was sold at the gardens for their use. The listings provide Latin and common (French) names classified according to the system of Tournefort then in use by the apothecaries . The entries include Latin and common names together with, in most cases, citations of listings in earlier botanical works and brief notations regarding the primary medicinal properties of the listed plant. Jean Descemet, the famous Parisian physician, is often incorrectly cited as the author of this work. The correct attribution is to Pierre Descemet, who ran the gardens for many years before his death in( 1762 or 1763). His son, Jacques-Louis, succeeded him. (For a lengthy account of the gardens see: Constans, Martine, ed., JARDINER A PARIS AU TEMPS DES ROIS pp. 209-216). Pritzel 2168 incorrectly ascribing this to Jean; Cleveland 395 for the first edition of 1741. 8vo (18.3 x 11.7 cm); xxii + (ii) + 136 pp. with printer's ornaments.

Paris: Rousselon 1826. General catalogue of this important French nursery located in Paris. Son of the head gardener for the comte de Provence (later King Louis XVIII), Noisette started his own nursery in Paris in 1806. He focused, from the beginning, on the collection of choice and exotic plants from around the world. His brother Philippe, posted to America by the French government, was among the many correspondents who sent him seeds and plants from Asia and the Americas. Many of these were first introduced into European cultivation through Noisette's nursery, which attracted the business of numerous wealthy clients. Especially notable was Prince Nicolas II Esterházy, who engaged Noisette to lay out and plant his extensive properties in Austria. Although Noisette's large nursery had significant collections in all categories, he was most widely known for his rare ornamental plants, especially roses. Noisette roses are named for him, and his nursery carried over 1000 different varieties of rose, nearly all of them listed here. Noisette published two much smaller catalogues in 1825. The first of these, 27 pages, was devoted only to fruit trees. The second, devoted to dahlias, roses and other flowering shrubs, had only 19 pages. The present catalogue, with 101 pages of listings, appears to be the only general catalogue to have been issued by the nursery. It includes over 9000 varieties divided into four primary sections: hot house plants; plants for the orangery; hardy plants and shrubs; and hardy herbaceous plants. Over twelve pages are devoted just to roses. 8vo (21.5 x 13.8 cm); 8 + 102 pp.

(New York) 1889. 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.

New Orleans, LA & Elmhurst, Cal., D. Moriarty, ca. 1904. A trade catalogue of curious inventions in vases with hollow interiors allowing the roots to connect directly with the ground. Also, a decorative "truck " or tray filled with dirt for the roots to grow into is available to make the vases moveable. Some vases are available in different colored imitation granite . Those shown in color plate are available in "Red Scotch granite," "Blue Westerly granite," " Dark Barre granite," "Vermont marble" and "Green Barre granite." Prices are included and, for extra charge, the vases could be carved "as elegantly as desired." Not found in OCLC. Stapled oblong pamphlet, 17 x 25.5 cm.; 12 unnumbered pp. with text figures and with 5 color lithographed plates.