W. Robinson — The English Flower Garden

London; New York, John Murray; Scribner & Welford, 1883. First edition. Cloth. A smart and heavily illustrated and highly influential horticultural title, very scarce in the first edition. A scarce title, very scarce in the first edition, with no other copies earlier than 1889 currently available on Abe.Irish practical gardener William Robinson was responsible for the increase in popularity of the English cottage garden across the 19th Century, and worked under the sponsorship of Charles Darwin, James Veitch, David Moore, and many other prominent figures in the field.Within is some of Robinson's most influential work. This title is considered to have revolutionised the art of gardening, and encouraged a wilder and more varied approach to the domestic garden, considering its cultivation a true art.In original publisher's cloth, with floral gilt motif and lettering to the front board and spine.A densely illustrated title, this work features two hundred and seventy-four monochrome plates, printed across 137 double-sided monochrome plates, in addition to vignette illustrations throughout.Plate III slightly weak. Bound in original brown cloth. Externally, smart. Slight offsetting to boards. Mild shelf wear. Rear joint slightly starting. Small loss to rear joint. Very small closed tear to tail at rear joint. Small loss and slight fading to spine. The odd mark to boards. Hinges very slightly starting, but firm. Bookbinder sticker to rear paste down. Internally, generally firmly bound. Plate III slightly weak. Slight some leaves unopened. Pages generally bright and clean, with the odd spot. Moderate areas of spotting to the very first and last pages. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .