Books

2 vols in one, large 8vo. Copper-engraved frontispiece portrait of Evelyn by F. Bartolozzi dated 1776, 39 engraved plates (1 folding), most drawn and engraved by J. Miller, printed on heavy laid paper; occasional offsetting, but a nice copy. Contemporary calf, flat spine with 8 gilt bands with elaborate gilt flora and foliage decoration between, red morocco lettering-piece, covers with gilt border of flora and foliage, marbled endpapers; some wear. The "New Edition" of this important work. Evelyn's Sylva was first presented as a paper to the Royal Society on 16 February 1662. The paper was first issued in book form in 1664, By 1729, the work had gone through six editions. In 1776 Alexander Hunter (1729-1809) edited a new edition with illustrations by John Miller, The Hunter version subsequently went through four more editions from 1786 to 1825. In his preface to the 1776 edition, Hunter wrote, "Since the first edition of the Silva, in 1664, many improvements have been made in planting, and in every branch of natural knowledge. It, therefore, became my indispensable duty to bring down the improvements to the present time. These make the subject of the Notes, which are drawn from the most respectable authorities." John Evelyn (1620-1706) is justly celebrated for his Diary, which he kept throughout his life. His diary and that of his friend Samuel Pepys provide an invaluable picture of 17th-century England. His Silva was produced for the commissioners of the Royal Navy. Evelyn produced some thirty other books. Among them is Sculptura (1662), a small book on engraving and etching, in which he announced a new process: the mezzotint. A very nice copy of one of the seminal works on forestry References: Keynes, Evelyn 47; Henrey p. 138; Nissen BBI 615; Pritzel 2766 Provenance: J. G. (engraved 18th-century armorial bookplate).