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[DICKSON, R. W.]

A Complete Dictionary of Practical Gardening:

comprehending all the Modern Improvements in the Art; whether in the Raising of the Various Esculent Vegetables, or in the Forcing and Managing of different Sorts of Fruits and Plants, and that of Laying out, Ornamenting, and Planting Gardens and Pleasure Grounds: with Correct Engravings of the necessary apparatus, in building and other contrivances, as well of the more rare and curious plants cultivated for ornament or variety: from the Original Drawings by Sydenham Edwards. By Alexander McDonald, Gardener [pseud]. In two volumes.

First edition with fine hand-coloured botanical plates by Sydenham Teast Edwards (1768–1819). Edwards’s early work appeared in William Curtis's prestigious Botanical Magazine. In 1804, he was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society. He also contributed to the Flora Londinensis among other publications, and his work is considered among the best scientific illustrations of the day. His plates from this work were reprinted in The New Botanic Garden, 1812.

2 volumes, quarto. Contemporary tree calf, attractively rebacked to style with flat spines gilt in compartments, red and green morocco labels, corners restored, brown endpapers, gilt edges. 61 contemporary hand-coloured plates of flowers engraved by F. Sansom after Sydenham Edwards and 13 uncoloured plates of garden buildings and implements, in all 74 plates. Faint browning to outer leaves, pl. 40 (vol. 2) with paint smudge, a little foxing at beginning of vol. 2, still an excellent copy.