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. 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.

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.

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. Folio (38 x 29 cm); 9 color lithographed plates measuring 83 x 29 cm., with 2 varieties per plate.

Paris: Chez Deterville/Goujon 1811. Seconde Edition, "Entièrement Refondue Et Considerablement Augmentée." A massive catalogue resulting from the author's ambitious objective of compiling a complete list of all plants currently cultivated in France, Austria, Italy and England. In addition to its considerable enlargement, this edition also includes a folding plan of de Courset's own extensive botanical gardens near Boulogne. Extensive general observations take up most of the first volume, and the entries for each specific species and variety also include notes on cultivation and remarks on the best and most popular varieties for different purposes. A supplement volume (not present here) was also issued in 1814. Six volumes, 8vo (20.2 x 12.7 cm); viii + 562 (+ 1), 636 (+ 2), (iv) + 552, (iv) + 632, (iv) + 567, iv + 631 pp. + 1 folding plan, 1 engraved plate and 2 folding tables.

Paris, Et se vend A Bruxelles: Chez George Fricx 1749. This Brussels edition of what was the most popular pomological manual of the early 18th century is of particular interest because it includes, as an appendix, a reprint of the catalogue of fruit trees available from the nurseries of the Carthusian monks of Paris. During the 18th century the Pères Chartreux operated what was easily the largest nursery in Europe and supplied orchards across the continent with the best proven varieties of fruit. François Gentil, the anonymous author of LE JARDINIER SOLITAIRE, was a Carthusian lay brother who ran the nurseries for 30 years. His book was first published by Rigaud in 1704 and went through numerous French editions in addition to popular translations into English and German. The present edition appears to be based on the significantly enlarged fourth edition, which first appeared in Paris in 1712. However, none of the numerous editions published in Paris includes the nursery catalogue which is present here. The Chartreux in Paris are known to have issued at least five such catalogues before their dissolution during the French Revolution. The earliest of these that we can trace is dated 1736, and it is probably the text from this catalogue which has been reproduced here. (Fricx published an earlier edition of LE JARDINIER SOLITAIRE in 1737 which also includes a Chartreux catalogue. The present edition is in all likelihood a reprint of that text). These catalogues, all of which are rare, represent important documentation on the available fruit varieties in Europe during the 18th century. They also included notes on the characteristics and seasons for each fruit, and would have been an extremely useful reference for the fruit growers of the period. It is thus understandable that Fricx would have recognized the value of using the text from the 1736 catalogue - the most reliable description of fruit varieties of its day - as an addition to his own reprint of Gentil. We can locate no other editions of Gentil, besides the two Brussels editions of 1737 and 1749, which include a Chartreux catalogue. Plesch pg. 235 (1773 ed.). 16mo (16.6 x 10 cm); iii - xvi + 316 pp.

Paris: Chez L'Auteur, 1800. First edition. Though not highly esteemed as a scientific botanist, Buc'hoz was an energetic naturalist and an indefatigable compiler of botanical fact who stands as one of the most prolific French writers on this subject during his day. The primary objectives in his most important works were comprehensiveness and utility. In the present volume he provides an annotated catalogue of all plants useful in ornamental gardening or for display in orangeries and greenhouses. Over a thousand different varieties are listed, nearly all of which are accompanied by commentary on their special qualities and use in gardens. The work is divided into two main parts: the first is a general listing of both domestic and exotic plants; the second confines itself to hardy plants native to the region around Paris. A final chapter is devoted specifically to plants useful in the creation of hedges and enclosures. 8vo (19.8 x 12 cm); 16 + 288 pp.

Paris: Chez Madame Huzard, 1830. The nurseryman Jean-Pierre Vibert was "le grand rosiériste de la première moitié du XIX siècle... Ces catalogues constituent une source précieuse pour la connaissance des anciennes 'Roses de France'" (François Joyaux. LA ROSE DE FRANCE, pages 123 and 125). Jean- Pierre Vibert first published his OBSERVATIONS SUR LA NOMENCLATURE ET LE CLASSEMENT DES ROSES, including a catalogue of roses, in 1819. It went into at least eleven editions, but, the catalogue of roses published with it would be altered each year. In this copy roses added in 1830 are included; roses that did not sell well were also removed. The roses are identified by name, inventory number, type, price, color and nuance, and the date of first entrance" into commerce. Stock 3059; Werger & Burton 1245. 8vo (19.1 x 14.7 cm); 56 pp.

Paris: Au Cycas Revoluta, Boulevard des Italiens, No. 2, près les passage de l'Opéra. 1834. A well preserved early receipt from a Parisian florist with letterpress description of the firm's stock and penned notations showing details of a sale. At his shop called "Au Cycas Revoluta," Petit sold roses, peonies, plants for the orangery etc. He also rented plants for balls and soirées, and made up all sorts of bouquets. His nursery was located rue de Jessaints, No. 9, barrière St-Denis. On this invoice he has indicated in pen that he has sold 3 bouquets, 4 flowering plants and 24 "caisses" or flats for a total of 27 francs. With his signature. Single sheet folded three times, 18,7 x 11.5, with decorative printed border around merchant information.

Baltimore: (The Author) 1880. First edition of the first book on the camellia written by an American. Halliday was a nurseryman and florist located in Baltimore. He was a dedicated proponent of camellia propagation from cuttings, a practice which at that time was less common than grafting. He gives detailed instructions for all stages of development and includes several instructive text illustrations as well as five color plates. Halliday's advice was particularly directed to commercial growers, with much attention paid to issues such as market prices and the profitablilty of different methods of cultivation. He was also a partisan of the alba plena variety, and offers much of his advice specifically for that plant. 12mo (19.2 x 12 cm); 142 pp. with 43 wood-engraved text illustrations + 5 chromolithographed plates.

Edinburgh: W. H. Lizars, n.d. (ca. 1845). Lothian was gardener to W. A. Campbell of Ormsary. This scarce volume, the first English work devoted wholly to alpine plants, appears to be his only published book. It begins with instructions for the location and construction of rockeries, ponds and bogs and the arrangement of plants in the rockery. A second section gives directions for cultivation and treatment, arranged by season, with separate discussion of "tenderer and rarer" plants, as well as advice on cultivation in Wardian cases. The appendix lists nearly 1000 varieties of recommended plants. The illustrations include two engraved plates showing rockery layouts and four hand-colored plates of plants. 12mo (16 x 10.2 cm); iii-xiv + 17-84 pp. + decorative illustrated title and 6 plates (four colored).