3. (Agricultural Fair - Berkshire County.) Farmington Valley Agricultural Society. The Fifth Annual Cattle Show and Fair of the Farmington Valley Agricultural Society, will be held at Otis, Mass. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1868. Lee, Mass.: Chronicle Print, [1868.] Broadside, 24 x 18 inches, untrimmed. Folded, near fine. In a modern frame. $325.
Handsome broadside on mustard yellow paper, listing officers, committees, and entry divisions; varied type headline, text within double rule.
3. ALAMANNI, Luigi. La Coltivatione. Paris: Robert Estienne, 1546. 8vo, modern quarter-calf, paste-paper boards, raised bands, morocco label. Some soiling, small chip to first four leaves; a sound, full margined copy, with the errata on u2v. Estiennes' name cancelled in ink, with ownership signature of "Melchior Magius. Canon: S. Petri Romae. A.S. 1700." $850.
First edition of Alamanni's chief work, a long didactic poem on agriculture, in the manner of Virgil's Georgics. In the Robert Estienne canon, the book is notable as the only book from his press printed in large italic, and the only book in Italian. Schreiber 88; Simon Bacchica II No. 10; Mortimer I, No. 10.
5. (Architecture, Landscape Gardening - American.) Hallett, William T. Printed circular: W. T. Hallett, Architect, Norwich, Ct. Norwich, Feb. 1st, 1857. 3 pp. 4to, on blue paper. Folded, fine. SOLD
Interesting promotional circular for an architect of some achievement. The first page advertises Hallet's services with a list of buildings he has designed, including the New London City Hall, St. Paul's Church, Hartford, the interior of Trinity Church, Norwich, First Baptist Church, New London "in the Norman Style", and various residences. Pages 3 and 4 are given to an offprint essay by Hallet on landscape gardening, a succinct manifesto of the "natural" style: "Any thing like precision in Rural Architecture or Gardening is deplorable. Think of Nature planting her trees at right angles; or running her rivers, or forming her hills with chess-board precision. These would be fine freaks indeed; and that which is true of nature must hold good for art," etc.
9. BARD, Samuel. A Guide for Young Shepherds; or, facts and observations on the character and value of merino sheep. With rules and precepts for their management, and the treatment of their diseases, as well as of sheep in general. New-York: Collins & Co., 1811. 8vo, early half-calf and pink paste-paper boards. Pp. vi, [7]-112. Illus. Spine rubbed, hinges worn but intact, fine within. $575.
First edition, by the distinguished physician and founder of Columbia Medical College, who with his friend Robert Livingston, was an early proponent of merino sheep in America, and among the first to import them. A scarce book, the second on its subject published in this country. Imprints 22298; Rink 16077.13. BLAIKIE, Francis, 1770-1856? Scottish agriculturist, writer and manager of Thomas William Coke's estates at Holkham. 15 ALs, one to Richard Mackenzie Bacon, editor of the Norwich Mercury, the remaining to Bacon's son and editorial successor, Richard Novare Bacon. Holkham and Melrose, 1821-56. 63 pages, some tears, minor loss. With complete typed transcription. $1,650.
An important 35 year correspondence from one of the ablest Scottish agriculturists of the 19th century, for 12 years manager at Holkham, the world renowned experimental estate of Thomas William Coke, Earl of Leicester, recognized as one of the great achievements of English agriculture. The earliest letters are written during Blaikie's tenure at Holkham, and deal mostly with the publication of R. N. Bacon's Report of the Transactions at the Holkham Sheep Shearing. Following Coke's death in 1842, Blaikie retired to Scotland and the remaining letters are written from his farm at St. Helens, Melrose. Bacon's proposed history of Coke and Holkham elicits from Blaikie several substantial letters regarding the estate and those who contributed to its success. There is lengthy comment on the controversy regarding the placement of Coke's memorial, and the in-fighting and goings on at Holkham following Coke's death. In response to Bacon's request for biographical details for his work, Blaikie supplies a long and detailed account of the introduction of the turnip into England and his own contributions to perfecting its culture as a field crop. Blaikie himself was the author of a handful of scarce pamphlets, published by Coke primarily for distribution among the Holkham tenants, and in one of the letters he discusses these works. Another letter is devoted to his theories regarding an unsolved Norfolk murder making news at the time.Active well into his eighties, Blaikie writes with clarity and a wry sense of humor. These are the letters of an energetic and articulate individual, full of keen observation on politics and affairs of the day, agricultural and economic policy, as well as more purely rural matters. Altogether a fine batch of primary material regarding a crucial period in English agriculture.
14. BLITH, Walter. The English Improver Improved or the Survey of Husbandry Surveyed. The third impression, much augmented. London: for John Wright, 1653. 4to, early full calf, rebacked, later endpapers. Engraved title, folding plate, two full page illustrations. Spine rubbed, corners bumped; title cropped as usual; a very good copy. $750.
Third edition, second impression, of Blith's popular agricultural treatise. "His writings touch every branch of the industry, and he seems to have entertained the first systematic conceptions of the 'alternate husbandry.' " -McDonald, p. 97. With the oft printed illustrations of early ploughs and digging tools, and the attractive engraved title with its 'sword into plowshare' theme. Wing B3196; Perkins Cat 184.
18. (Botanical illustration - Roses.) HARTINGER, Anton. Rosa Canina. Original pencil & body color rose portrait on paper, 12/ 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. Signed, "Ant. Hartinger. 1883". Matted. See illustration. $2,200.
Hartinger was a Viennese botanical artist and lithographer, most known for his illustrated Paradisus Vindobonensis (1844-47). His superb technique is in full evidence in this attractive portrait of the dog rose, showing a full branch of blossom and detail of rose hips.
19. (Botanical Illustration.) MELLEY, Helen C. Folio volume titled Edible Wild Foods, consisting of 14 leaves of original watercolors on thick fine paper, illustrating 113 specimens of American edible wild plants, with facing calligraphic text, followed by 13 leaves of recipes for same in manuscript. Sheet size 10 1/2 x 14 inches. Bound in modern blue fine cloth, with the original hand-decorated cover-title laid down. American, first half of the 20th century. SOLD
An attractive botanical album, by a talented amateur. An inscription states "Done by Helen C. Melley, Adams Street, Milton, Massachusetts". Nicely bound, in very fine condition.
Bound for Queen Victoria.
20. Botanical Society of Edinburgh. First Annual Report, Laws and Transactions, of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. Instituted 17th March 1836. Edinburgh: Printed for the Society, 1837. Pp. 54. [with:] Second Annual Report and Proceedings of The Botanical Society. Session 1837-8. Edinburgh: for the Society, 1838. Pp. 89. [with:] A Catalogue of British Plants... Printed for the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. Edinburgh : Maclachlan and Stewart, etc., 1836. Pp. 15. 3 v. in 1. 8vo, elaborately bound in full green morocco by Robert Seton Mound of Edinburgh, with raised bands panelled in gilt, the boards ruled, with ornamental panels within which the medallion insignia of the Society; richly tooled inner dentelles, yellow brocade-textured endpapers, the paste-downs bearing the royal arms in gilt, the fly-leaves a vase of flowers; a.e.g. Mildly rubbed at extremities, occasional foxing, institutional stamp on title. $1200.
The Society's first three publications, handsomely bound for its royal patron Queen Victoria.
22. BRIDGEMAN, Thomas. The Young Gardener's Assistant: Containing a catalogue of garden and flower seeds, with practical directions under each head, for the cultivation of culinary vegetables and flowers. New York: Geo. Robertson, 1832. 12mo, original boards, cloth spine, printed cover label. PP. vi, 164. Printed spine label wanting, general soiling and running marginal stain, still a good, sound copy in original state. $500.
Second edition, enlarged. The first edition (Brooklyn 1829) is quite a rare book, this second edition not much less so. The work went on through numerous editions to be one of the most popular gardening books of 19th century America. This edition contains a new preface, with interesting information on the horticultural trade, and noting that the first edition had been favorably reviewed in France in the pages of the Annales de L'Institute Royal Horticole de Fromont. Bridgeman being a seedsman by trade, his book is valuable for its catalogue format, listing many old varieties of vegetables, together with interesting lists of garden flowers and a descriptive list of ornamental shrubs. This edition not recorded in Imprints.
23. BRIGHT, Henry A. The English Flower Garden. With illustrative notes. London: Macmillan and Co., 1881. 8vo, pictorial cloth, gilt. pp. x, (1), 94. Near fine. $65.
First edition, by the author of the influential and oft-reprinted, Year in a Lancashire Garden. A leisurely, rambling essay on English garden history, full of literary allusions and interesting minutiae, touching upon such topics as landscape history, topiary, roses, bedding, wild gardens, and flower shows, and reflecting Bright's experience as a bibliophile.24. (Broadside.) Caledonia County [Vt.] Agricultural Society. Annual Fair and Cattle Show. The Executive Committee...encouraged by the patronage of the Legislature of Vermont, intend to offer premiums...E. E. Fuller, Chairman. Nd (c. 1850?) 15 1/2 x 25 inches, untrimmed. Text within ornamental border. Fine. $185.
A handsome broadside, with a list of premiums and substantial text regarding the organization of the competition.29. (Cattle and Sheep.) Hints for American Husbandmen, with Communications to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society. By order of the directors. Philadelphia: Clark & Raser, 1827. 8vo, original stiff wrappers, printed title label. Unpaginated. Folding frontispiece and 4 plates. Spine worn, some browning, but a nice copy in original state. $850.
Sole edition, very scarce. A compilation from original and published sources both English and American, almost entirely devoted to short-horn cattle and sheep and their food crops. The large folding engraved frontispiece showing "Matilda, one of Mr. Whitaker's Improved Short Horn Cows" in a rural setting with sheep and agricultural implements in the foreground, is a handsome piece of work by the noted engraver Francis Kearny, after the original work of Philadelphia landscape and still-life painter John Woodside. Rink 1333; Imprints 30185.
30. CHITTENDEN, Fred J., ed. The Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. A practical and scientific encyclopedia of horticulture. Second edition, by Patrick M. Synge. Oxford, Clarendon Press, (1956) and 1969. 6 vols, 4to, cloth. Pp. 2316 (Vols 1-4); 334; 554. Illus. Covers of one volume bubbled from damp, otherwise a nice tight set. $185.
The second edition, 4 vols plus supplement, with the revised second edition of the supplement. A standard authority, uniting the best in 19th and 20th century practices. Using George Nicholson's able Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening (1884-1888) as a starting point, Chittenden organized a stable of contributors drawn from the best British and American authorities working just before World War II to revise and expand Nicholson and despite the difficulties of the war years succeeded in completing most of the work before his death in 1950, at which point Synge took over. The first edition was published in 1951, followed by this second edition and supplements.32. (Cockfighting.) SKETCHLEY, William. The Cocker; Containing every information to the breeders and amateurs of that noble bird, the game cock: to which is added, a variety of other useful information for the instruction of those who are attendants on the cock pit. Burton-On-Trent: J. Croft, 1814. Sm 8vo, later full polished calf, spine gilt; marbled endpapers. Pp. 154. Frontispiece of cock fight. Some browning and foxing; front hinge tender. $350.
Expanded edition of the a book first published in 1793. Pp. 1-61 give full particulars on breeding, desirable charcteristics, matches, etc.; remainder forms for keeping records, accounts, etc.33. (Coffee.) Anno Regni Georgii II. An Act for Encouraging the Growth of Coffee in His Majesty's Plantations in America. London: John Baskett, 1732. Folio, removed. Pp. 411-415. Fine. $135.
Promoting coffee plantations in Jamaica and other British colonies, by reduction of duties for coffee grown therein.36. CONNECTICUT. Transactions of the Society, for Promoting Agriculture in the State of Connecticut. Published by order of the Society. New Haven: William Morse, 1802. 4to, original plain wraps, stitched. Pp. 21, (1). $250.
Only edition, all published; the first publication of the society, which was founded in 1794. For this report, oral testimony was solicited from farmers throughout the state regarding their experiments with manures, soils, wheat, flax, potatoes & turnips, grasses, fruit trees, and butter and cheese. A fine copy of a scarce pamphlet. Sabin 15863; Imprints 2081; Tucher 959.37. COWLEY, Abraham. Poemata Latina: In quibus continentur sex libri plantarum, viz. duo herbarum, florum, sylvarum, et unus miscellaneorum. London: Jo. Martyn, 1678. 12mo, early full calf, spine gilt. Pp. [xxiii], 343, [13]. Engraved frontis. port. Spine worn at extremities, rear board nearly detatched. Bookplate. $200.
Second edition of this collected edition, with a new index, edited with a biographical notice by Thomas Sprat. The practical value of Cowley's Plantarum has been questioned but "it was read by many including the intellectuals of the day, and it must have done much to further the interest in botany and gardening in the reign of Charles II." --Henrey I, p. 207. Wing 6681; Henrey 51.38. DAVY, Humphrey. Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, in a course of lectures for the Board of Agriculture. London: for Longman, Rees, etc., 1814. Thick 8vo, original boards, paper label. Pp. xi, 479, [9]. With 10 folding engraved plates. Extremities of spine worn, front hinge repaired, a fresh, uncut, copy. $165.
The second edition.
40. DONALDSON, John. A Treatise on Manures, Their Nature, Preparation, and Application. With a description and use of the most approved British grasses. To which is added a miscellaneous article on farming, with an estimate and description of an example-farm of three hundred acres. London: Robert Baldwin, 1842. Large 8vo, original cloth, (worn). Pp. 416, illus. Covers nearly detached. A binding copy, but sheets decent. $27.50
First edition of a substantial treatment of the subject. R.A.S. Catalogue p. 96.
44. (Forestry - English, 17th c.) PARKYNS, Richard of Yorkshire. Autograph letter, signed. To Richard Hawker, Flintham. Undated, 17th c. Folio, 1 page, with integral address leaf, which is partly torn along folds; otherwise very good. $325.
Interesting letter beginning "Much valewed brother," regarding a controversy over the cutting of cord wood in Dob Park, Yorkshire. Defending himself against Hawker's challenge that he ought not do so, Parkyns writes "The contrarye, this corde woode that I gett in Dob parke I am necessitated to, by a bargayn made for foure hundreth cord to be be delivered upon bargayn before my tyme, but howsoever you belief that the cutting the wood in this manner will spoyle the trees. I am confermed by men of judgment that it will make the timber better hereafter. I cut none but water boughts and dead boughts and armes that hath been broken donne by the falls of other trees in former time, and they would spoyle the other trees if they were not cut donne..." etc. The controversy revolves around Parkyns' son Rollston and his financial troubles. Dob Park still exists to some extent as a public preserve.
A Presentation Copy.
45. FORSYTH, William. A Treatise on the Culture and Management of Fruit Trees; In which a new method of pruning and training is fully described. To which is added, a new and improved edition of "Observations on the diseases, defects and injuries, in all kinds of fruit and forest trees:" with an account of a particular method of cure. London: Nichols and Son, for T. N. Longman and O. Rees, 1802. Large 4to, modern 3/4 calf, marbled boards, spine richly tooled in blind, red morocco labels. Pp. 371, [1]. 13 engraved folding plates. A fine copy. $825.
First and only large format edition of a widely influential work, a presentatipon copy inscribed on a front blank, "Thomas Forsyth, Esq. From the author." A pleasing copy, handsomely bound.
47. (Fungi.) McILVAINE, Charles. Toadstools, Mushrooms, Fungi Edible and Poisonous. One Thousand American Fungi. How to select and cook the edible; how to distinguish and avoid the poisonous. Indianapolis: The Bowen-Merrill Company, (1900). Thick royal 8vo, original green cloth gilt. Pp. xxxvii, 704. Colored frontispiece and 33 color plates, numerous half-tone plates, and textual illustrations. Spine sl. rubbed, occ. light foxing; a very good copy. $500.
First edition, one of 750 copies signed by the author. A classic of popular mycology, the first substantial American work of its kind. McIlvaine personally assessed the edibility of every one of the mushrooms he includes, and he describes what might be considered rather harrowing near misses with charming offhandedness. The focus of his 20 year study of the field was culinary, and a chapter of "Recipes for Cooking and Preparing for the Table", is provided, immediately following a chapter on "Toadstool Poisoning and Its Treatment" contributed by Dr. W. S. Carter. Scarce. Cagle & Stafford 501.
48. Garden Colour. Spring by Mrs. C. W. Earle; Summer by E.V.B. [Eleanor Vere Boyle]; Autumn by Rose Kingsley; Winter by Hon. Vicary Gibbs. Coloured sketches and notes by Margaret Waterfield. London: J. M. Dent, 1905. Large 4to, original cloth. Pp. xvi, 196. 51 plates in color. Title a little foxed, cloth worn; a good copy. $65.
50. (Garden Photos - English.) "Broomley, around 1900." 2 mounted photograph garden views, each 7 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches on 12 x 10 inch cardboard mounts with printed borders. Each signed in pencil by the photographer William Gilchrist. $300.
Handsome pair, one showing a long view of formal beds along a gravel path, an araucaria (monkey puzzle tree) and rose standards prominent, with a woman and child gathering roses in the foreground; the other a round formal bed of staked dahlias and ornamental grasses framed between two topiary arches, with trees and hills in distance. The estate is identified in pencil in a later hand on the versos.
53. GRAY, Asa. Plantae Wrightianae Texano-Neo-Mexicanae. An account of a collection of plants made by Charles Wright in an expedition from Texas to El Paso, New Mexico in the summer and autumn of 1849. Parts I & II [all]. [Washington, D.C.:] The Smithsonian Institution, [1852-53]. Folio, modern half speckled calf antique, morocco label, spine ruled in gilt. Pp. 146, 119; 14 uncolored litho plates, after Isaac Sprague. A few leaves mildly wrinkled, else a fine copy in a handsome modern binding. $1500.
First editions, issued as "Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge" Vol. III, Art. 5 and Vol. V, Art. 6. Sabin 28373 & 28374; Meisel, p. 103; Mass Hort Cat, p. 121.
Extra-Illustrated.
55. HOLE, Samuel Reynolds. The Memories of Dean Hole. London: Edward Arnold, 1892. Thick 8vo, 3/4 morocco, marbled boards; spine with raised bands, gilt compartments (extremities rubbed). Pp. xii, 377. Photogravure portrait and text illustrations by Leech & Thackerey. Some light waterstaining and spotting throughout. $375.
First edition, by the great rosarian and sporting enthusiast. An uncommon book to begin with, this copy enhanced by the addition of 92 engraved and 8 colored extra illustrations, including portraits, views, sporting scenes, and garden plans.57 (Holstein Friesians.) A Group of Holstein Friesian Cattle. Crumhorn Stock Farms, Milford, New York. Compliments of D. F. Wilber, Oneonta, N.Y. Lithograph, 22 x 28 inches, signed in image "John W. Hills". Ca. 1890. Minor curling of blank margins, a few minor light stains to same. SOLD
Fine group portrait of 9 champions, grazing by a lake, with each subject identified by name and pedigree.61. (Jacques.) LOVELL, Albert A. Memorial of George Jaques, comprising selections from his journals and a biographical sketch. Worcester: Privately printed, 1878. 8vo, disbound. Pp. 90. Frontispiece portrait. Blindstamp on title. $32.50
Only edition, one of 75 copies. With the orginal prospectus tipped in.Click For Part II