[Sinclair, George, 1786-1834 (?); Jane C. Loudon (?); The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (London)]

Useful and Ornamental Planting. With an index. Published under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

London: Baldwin and Cradock, Paternoster Row, 1832.

Series: Library of Useful Knowledge. Octavo (23 x 14 cm.), iv, 151 pages. Illustrated in text with wood engravings. Index. FIRST EDITION. An early 19-century work on planting, mostly arboriculture for trees, with chapters on judicious planting, the structure and growth of trees, approved methods for preparing soil, and with a chapter on ornamental plantings as well. Other topics touched on include hedgerow planting and maintenance, and a list with descriptions of forest trees. Both George Sinclair and Jane Loudon are credited in a few institutional records as author of this work, but we find a source for neither. Published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, a London-based society formed in the early nineteenth century with the intention to publish educational treatises on a wide range of topics so that individuals who could not obtain formal education could educate themselves. Bound in half brown calf, with blue marbled paper over boards. Compartmented spine decorated with a handsome gilt-tooled fish-scale pattern; gilt -titled, red morocco spine label. Binder's stamp "Bound by MacKenzie & Son", to front paste-down. Some light edgewear, otherwise fine. With the bookplates of Thomas Philip, Second Earl de Grey (1781-1859) and a modern bookplate of a George S. Mead, depicting Gesner's sea creature, the Ziphius. [OCLC locates numerous institutional holdings; Goldsmiths' Kress Library 35009].

Price: $250.00