Kate Greenaway — Language of Flowers

London, George Routledge and Sons, 1884 . First edition. Hardback. The scarce first edition of this delightfully illustrated children's work from celebrated illustrator Kate Greenaway, with illustrations printed in colour by Edmund Evans. The scarce first edition of this work, Baker G.66.aIn the publisher's original cream paper covered boards, designed to imitate the appearance of morocco.With forty-eight colour illustrations by Greenaway, with these illustrations printed in colour by Edmund Evans.This charming volume associates an alphabetically arranged list of flowers with their meaning, and the intention behind the gift of them.To the rear of the work are a number of short poems about various flowers.A delightful first edition from the celebrated Victorian era illustrator, in whose honour the Kate Greenaway Medal was established. In the publisher's original paper covered boards. Bump to back strip head, with light shelf wear to back strip tail. Externally, bright, with light handling marks. Small mark to rear board. Front hinge strained, but firmly held. Extensive former owner's watercolour markings to front pastedown and front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and generally clean, with instances of light handling marks. Very Good . Ill.: Kate Greenaway; Edmund Evans. Very Good .