Elwes. A Monograph of the Genus Lilium. [1877]-1880

Property from the Library at Spetchley Park

ELWES, HENRY JOHN

A Monograph of the Genus Lilium, illustrated by W.H. Fitch. [London: Taylor and Francis, 1877]-1880

FIRST EDITION, folio (556 x 380mm.), dedication leaf, two hand-coloured maps on one sheet, mounted albumen print of a scene in the North-west Himalayas by Bourne, 48 hand-coloured lithographs, 'Notice to Subscribers' leaves and original wrappers to the parts bound in at end (March 1877, April 1877, August 1877, December 1877, with date on overslip, August 1878, January 1879, May 1880), later red half morocco, minor occasional staining

"Elwes is remembered not primarily as a scientist—he had no formal scientific training and relied on co-authors for the strictly botanical sections of his writings—but as a traveller, collector, and particularly as a plantsman. He knew what to collect, was determined in his travels to find it, was highly observant in describing the geographical distribution of what he found, and was particularly skilled in propagating specimens he brought back" (ODNB).

LITERATURE:

Nissen BBI 594

PROVENANCE:

J.A.D. Bridger, Penzance, bookseller's label