John Hill
Eden, London, printed for T. Osborne, Trye, Crowder & Woodgate, 1757
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Hill (John)
Eden: Or a Compleat Body of Gardening.
Published in London: printed for T. Osborne, S. Crowder & Co. and H. Woodgate, [1756]-1757. 2° (420 x 258mm). 2pp. letterpress dedication to the Earl of Bute, engraved frontispiece and 60 hand-colored engraved plates. Contemporary diced calf (rebacked) Provenance: Sir Giles Loder (bookplate). Colored issue of one of the first 'Modern' Gardening books. A fine copy, the leaves clean and fresh, and the plates both richly and expertly colored by a contemporary hand. This profusely illustrated botanical work is a volume of considerable beauty and is of interest to us today for its impressive plates, but it was published originally as a weekly guide (and issued in weekly parts) offering information on plants that would be blooming, fruiting, or needing the gardener's attention in the following seven days. The needs of the flower garden, greenhouse and nursery, fruit garden, and kitchen garden are individually addressed. Each part is accompanied by an engraved plate depicting six or more plant specimens, the vast majority of them beautiful blossoms. Henrey III, 776; Hunt 559; Nissen BBI 880; cf. Tomasi An Oak Spring Flora 53. Sold.
Eden: Or a Compleat Body of Gardening.
Published in London: printed for T. Osborne, S. Crowder & Co. and H. Woodgate, [1756]-1757. 2° (420 x 258mm). 2pp. letterpress dedication to the Earl of Bute, engraved frontispiece and 60 hand-colored engraved plates. Contemporary diced calf (rebacked) Provenance: Sir Giles Loder (bookplate). Colored issue of one of the first 'Modern' Gardening books. A fine copy, the leaves clean and fresh, and the plates both richly and expertly colored by a contemporary hand. This profusely illustrated botanical work is a volume of considerable beauty and is of interest to us today for its impressive plates, but it was published originally as a weekly guide (and issued in weekly parts) offering information on plants that would be blooming, fruiting, or needing the gardener's attention in the following seven days. The needs of the flower garden, greenhouse and nursery, fruit garden, and kitchen garden are individually addressed. Each part is accompanied by an engraved plate depicting six or more plant specimens, the vast majority of them beautiful blossoms. Henrey III, 776; Hunt 559; Nissen BBI 880; cf. Tomasi An Oak Spring Flora 53. Sold.
