G. Francis — The Grammar of Botany

London, Simpkin Marshall & Co. 1840. First edition. Cloth. A remarkably scarce first edition of this already very scarce illustrated title. An incredibly scarce first edition of this already very scarce horticultural title.In original cloth binding.Features 2 pages of author's catalogue to the rear of the title.Decorated with a delicate gilt motif to spine.Featuring a colour title page, and frequent vignette illustrations.Written by English horticulturalist and science writer George William Francis, who migrated to South Australia in 1849, and later became the first director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Bound in original brown cloth. Externally, a little worn. rubbing to gilt motif. Front hinge starting, but firm. Rear hinge weak, board may detach with further handling. Text block coming away from cloth of spine at tail. Fading to boards. Bumping to extremities. The odd marks to boards. Marks to endpapers. Contemporary ink inscription to front free endpaper. Internally, generally firmly bound, with occasional strain. Pages generally bright and clean. Slight spotting to text block edges. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .