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.

N.P. (Bruyères -Le-Chatel): (Simon Louis Frères & Cie.), ca. 1930. An imressive presentation album of sample seed packet labels 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. Learn your Lettuces 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.

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.

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 Charles de Sercy, 1689. An early manual on carnations and pinks addressed specifically to the amateur jardinier fleuriste at a period when the carnation was particularly in vogue. The first hundred pages deal with various aspects of cultivation - in pots, in greenhouses, and in the ground - while the remainder is devoted to an extensive listing of varieties. These entries describe each variety carefully and are full of observations on their particular qualities and special requirements, opinions as to their value and beauty, and occasional reference to the novelty or age of a particular variety. This work has been erroneously attributed to Goube, who wrote an eighteenth century work with a similar title. Its true author is unknown. Musset-Pathay 1379. 8vo (15.2 x 9 cm); (iv) + 164 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. “le grand rosiériste de la première moitié du XIX siècle” Stock 3059; Werger & Burton 1245. 8vo (19.1 x 14.7 cm); 56 pp.

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. The first English work devotd wholly to alpines 12mo (16 x 10.2 cm); iii-xiv + 17-84 pp. + decorative illustrated title and 6 plates (four colored).