Books

Silva: or, A Discourse of Forest-Trees, and the Propagation of Timber in his Majesty s Dominions: As it was delivered in the Royal Society On the 15th Day of October, 1662. Upon Occasion of certain Quaeries propounded to that illustrious Assembly, by the Honourable the Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy. Together with An Historical Account of the Sacredness and Use of Standing Groves. By John Evelyn, Esq; Fellow of the Royal Society, with Notes by A. Hunter, M.D. F.R.S. A New Edition. Complete in Two Volumes, Printed by A. Ward for J. Dodsley, Pall-Mall, York, 1786, & Terra: A Philosophical Discourse of Earth. Relating to the Culture and Improvement of it for Vegetation, and the Prorogation of Plants, as it was presented to the Royal Society, forty-two engraved plates, one folding, original leather, folios. In good condition. Front and rear board detached on volume I. Front joint tender and splitting on volume II. Light wear to extremities with minor scuffing to edges and surface of leather. Desiccation along surface of leather with slight rubbing at center. Corners rubbed with board exposed. Later spines dated 1786 at bottom compartment. Likely 19th or early 20th century spines. Compartments feature an attractive stamp of trees, four on each spine. Delicate tooling along raised bands. Morocco labels intact and intricately decorated. Very fine. Light scuffing to spine ends. Armorial bookplate Pauncefort Duncombe of Brickhill Manor on pastedowns. Dusty blue end papers. Douglas Weir 19 September 1997 Boston to Mom 25 April 1998. Letter of from lord Duncombe s groundskeeper Theodore Gibbs. Sir Annexed I have the honor to hand you a list of forest trees that can be supplied from our Ampthill Nursery we have alas a variety of Evergreen deciduous of American plants at Ampthill and the favor of your Commands, his will much oblige us I have the honor to be Sir Your Respectful friend, Tho. Gibbs, Nov. 21st, 1816. Gives a list and their prices of Ash, Alders, Beech, Birch, Elms, Maple, Oak, Privet, Walnuts and Yews. Textblocks are slightly toned with minor instances of foxing throughout. Minor offsetting from plates. Free of known marginalia. End papers are pasted with newsprint from Lord Duncombe on different species of trees! Fascinating. Bindings tight and intact all edges yellow. Please see photos. An extremely beautiful set by John Evelyn (1620-1706), gardener, writer and minor government official. First published in 1664 as a plea to the Royal Society in London for reforestation in England, when the country was being depleted by glass factories, iron furnaces and the Royal Navy. Evelyn is credited with planting more than a million new trees. Arboriculture was an endless source of interest and delight to Evelyn. Throughout his life he was constantly adding to his knowledge on the subjects, from his own experience in the planting of trees, from observations made during his travels home and abroad, and from other men s writings. From 1664 to 1706 Evelyn published four editions of Sylva and on each occasion the work was expanded. It contains an enormous amount of information concerning the cultivation of the various kinds of forest trees, and the uses of their timber, together with facts and anecdotes obtained from the books, both classical and contemporary. The work was success from the start and gave stimulus to planting in Britain, Charles II setting the example by replenishing the forests. Fascinating provenance of Pauncefort-Duncombe of Brickhill Manor, Great Brickhill. The Manor was demolished in 1936 but the grounds still exist and are open to the public. Included in this book is a letter from the baronet s groundskeeper Gibbs of the different trees planted in 1816. The trees located at the pleasure grounds are still there and can be visited.