Paris: Monrocq frères, n.d. (ca, 1855). Victor Petit was an artist, lithographer and chromolithographer who documented the picturesque architecture and gardens built in and around Paris during the Second Empire. He was also a member of numerous archaelogical associations. Habitations Champêtres was one of four complementary works directed at the newly wealthy and culturally ambitious bourgeoisie of the time: the others were MAISONS DE COMPAGNE DES ENVIRONS DE PARIS, PARCS ET JARDINS DES ENVIRONS DE PARIS, AND PETITES CONSTRUCTIONS PITTORESQUES. In the present work the focus is on the variety of country house styles found in different regions of France and, to a small extent, in England and Italy. The parks, grounds arrangements, garden structures and outbuildings are also depicted. Belvederes, garden pavilions, rustic cabanas and the like are shown along with views of parks such as the Parc de Pinon in Picardie or the Parc du Marchais in Burgundy. Distinctions are made among maisons champêtres, maisons de plaisance, and maisons bourgeoises; all are shown in grounds settings. The work was available from the publishers in simple black and white lithography or in coloured lithography; individual plates could also be ordered separately, either coloured or in black and white. The present copy offers 30 plates in black and white and the remaining 70 hand finished to varying degrees in light color. They offer an interesting contrast to the forceful colors available as shown in sample plates from Petites Constructions and Parcs Et Jardins Des Environs De Paris which are laid in here. Ganay 254, but the Ganay copy does not have the title page. 4to (36.5 x 27 cm) Loose in portfolio, as issued. Partially colored title page + 100 lithographed plates, 70 of which are coloured to varying degrees, 30 are in black and white, plus, 8 coloured lithographed plates,, from PETITES CONSTRUCTIONS PITTORESQUES and one from PARCS ET JARDINS laid in.

Yokohama: (The Yokohama Nursery Co., Ltd.), ca. 1890-1900. A beautifully preserved color lithographed horticultural catalogue from the Yokohama Nursery Company, justly famous for the attractiveness of its publications. “The Yokohama Nursery Company catalogues from the mid-1890s through the mid-1920s are impressive documents, written in English and beautifully illustrated with colored plates, line drawings, and photographs of classic Japanese plants.” (ARNOLDIA 64/2 -3, Del Tredici. “From Temple To Terrace” p. 4) In this offering of iris kaempferi there are only large full page illustrations, with examples identified in small type. There were apparently at least three different collections of the iris kaempferi presented in this format: one with 25 varieties, another with 100, and this one, with 18. The 18 flowers exhibited here are illustrated 2 to a page on 9 plates. The flower colors are in delicate shades of purple, pink and white, all printed against a delicate green printed background. The varieties in this particular collection include: Kumo-isho; Gekka-no-nami;Senjo-no-hora; Oyodo; Shippo; Momiji-no-taki; O-torige; Manadzuru; Tsuru-no kegoromo; Warei-hotei; Gei-sho-ui; Yezo-nishiki; Shiga-no-uranami; Shimoyo-no-tsuki; Kakujakuro; Shishi-ikari; Osho-kun;and Iso-no-nami. Very scarce, especially in this fine condition. With 18 Color Plates Folio (38 x 29 cm); 9 color lithographed plates measuring 83 x 29 cm., with 2 varieties per plate.

London: Groombridge And Sons, n.d. (ca, 1851). Maund was a pharmacist, botanist and bookseller who was most noted as the publisher of several botanical periodicals with colored plates, the most famous of which, THE BOTANIC GARDEN, began in 1825. The FRUITIST appeared as a sequel to that series, although the format of its illustrations differed from the earlier flower plates by presenting a single subject per page instead of four. These delicately hand-colored wood engravings depict a variety of fruits placed above their printed descriptions and framed within an elaborate printed border. Included are 34 apples, 24 pears, 6 plums, 3 gooseberries and 7 other fruits. In the present volume the fruits have been grouped by type, with varieties placed in alphabetical order, rather than in the random order in which they were originally received by subscribers. 4to (21 x 17.5 cm); (iv) + engraved title + 72 leaves each with a hand-colored wood engraving of a specimen of fruit.