Books

1776; the desirable First Hunter Edition [Sylva was first published 1664 and the spelling of the title by 1706 became Silva]; brown contempoary full calf binding; seven raised bands on spine; lettering in gilt on spine with the title on a red leather label on spine; gilt is bright; silk ribbon marker; publisher's red stain edges to page block; triple rule border tooled in blind on front and rear covers with additional tooling of designs; marbled end papers; John Evelyn's Sylva, considered a classic of Forestry, is his best known work, was a plea for re-forestation aimed at landowners and is often considered as one of the most influential texts on forestry ever published; this edition by A. [Alexander] Hunter M. D. F. R. S. (1729-1809) contains additional Notes by Hunter and is greatly expanded from earlier editions including additional plates; Hunter was a Scottish physician, known also as a writer and editor who took an active part in founding the Agricultural Society at York in 1770; his interest in rural economy came to the forefront in this elaborate illustrated edition of John Evelyn's Sylva; blank [2], blank [1]frontspiece, title page, blank, dedication, blank, The Editor's Preface [3], blank, Subscribers 8], the Life of Mr. John Evelyn [13], blank, The Epistle Dedicatory [3], To The Reader[17], Advertisment [2], Greek Poem [1], 649 pp, blank [1], An Explanatory Table fold-out [1], blank, Index 9], blank; modest age toning to recto and verso of the frontispiece; light foxing to several pages of the Index at the rear of the book; spine is square; inner joints are lightly cracked but hinges are strong; tips bumped; two tips peeking; minor shelf wear on edges; small chip on red spine label not affecting lettering; Subscriber's list includes James Boswell, Edward Gibbons, Francis Bacon etc; all 40 plates [including the fold-out Cawthorpe Oak plate and the Frontispiece portrait of John Evelyn} are present in excellent condition as are the 2 full page diagrams at page 502 of the South East and North West views of the Green Dale Oak at Welbeck.