Samuel Stanesby — The Floral Gift

London, Griffith & Farran, [1863]. First edition. Cloth. The stunning first and only edition of this scarce floral gift book, with each leaf illuminated with vivid chromolithograph border detail. Undated, dated from a copy held at The British Library. Scarce. The first and only edition of the work, particularly scarce in this green variant cloth. Recased, although binding is beginning to fail with the occasional leaf detached but present. This is a fragile binding and is usually seen recased. The leaves have been incorrectly bound in the work, meaning the page numbers do not run sequentially. However, as each leaf is its own poem, the work can still be read and enjoyed. Collated complete. Each leaf contains vibrant chromolithograph marginal motifs, thematically linked to the included flower. This finely crafted book is a charming collection of short poetic extracts, all centred on flowers, and includes passages from Wordsworth and Shakespeare, amongst others. The work is a particularly ornate example of Victorian gift books, created for their beauty. In the publisher's original green cloth binding. Recased, with leaves incorrectly bound out of sequence. Bumping to extremities and the odd handling mark to the boards. Prior owners' ink inscriptions to front free endpaper and paste down. Internally, binding strained, with several leaves detached but present. The odd spot, heavier to tissue guards, with illuminated leaves remaining fairly clean. Good Only . Ill.: Samuel Stanesby. Good Only .