We found 118894 price guide item(s) matching your search

Rice.- Spolverini (Gian Battista) La Coltivazione del Riso, first edition, engraved allegorical frontispiece, title-vignette, portrait of Elisabeth Farnese and charming head- & tail-pieces and initials by D.Cunego after Fran. Lorenzi, with final licence leaf (torn and repaired), another small marginal tear ro Y2 (repaired), very occasional marginal soiling, contemporary half vellum, roan labels (one chipped), rubbed, Verona, Agostino Carattoni, 1758 § [Delfico (Melchiorre)] Memoria sulla Coltivazione del Riso nella provincia di Teramo, first edition, title with decorative border, title soiled, lightly water-stained, library cloth, Naples, G.-M. Porcelli, 1783, 4to & 8vo (2)

Duhamel du Monceau (Henri Louis) A Practical Treatise of Husbandry, [translated and edited by John Mills], first edition in English, title in red and black, 6 engraved plates, folding table, light foxng and offsetting to plates, contemporary calf, sympathetically rebacked, [Fussell pp.48-49; Hunt 564], 4to, for J.Whiston and B.White, 1759.⁂ Includes vines, corn, wheat and manures. The author was a supporter of Tull's methods.

Forestry.- [Hamilton (Thomas, Earl of Haddington)] A Treatise on the Manner of Raising Forest Trees, &c., first edition, engraved frontispiece, light soiling, modern bookplate of W.Frank Perkins, contemporary calf, rebacked, for G. Hamilton and J. Balfour, 1761 § [Anderson (James)], "Agricola". Miscellaneous Observations on Planting and Training Timber-Trees; particularly calculated for the Climate of Scotland, first edition, half-title, contemporary tree calf, spine gilt, 1777 § Monteath (Robert) The Forester's Guide and Profitable Planter, second edition, half-title, 15 engraved plates, modern cloth, 1824; Miscellaneous Reports on Woods and Plantations, 8pp. advertisements at beginning, original boards, uncut, spine worn, Dundee, 1827 § Collection (A) of Acts for Encouraging the Planting of Timber Trees, title with woodcut royal arms and contemporary ink signatures of Robt. Ridge (soiled and lacking lower outer corner), browned, cropped with loss of a few head-lines, contemporary calf, gilt, spine worn and torn at head, Dublin, 1814, some foxing, rubbed, all but the last two Edinburgh; and 9 others on forestry, 8vo et infra (14)

Trades.- Meil (Johann Wilhelm) Spectaculum Naturae & Artium, 2 vol. in 1, first edition, titles in German and French with decorative wood-engraved border, text in German, Latin, French and Italian in four columns, 50 engraved plates by Meil, wood-engraved tail-pieces, contemporary boards, chipped and rubbed, 4to, Berlin, G.L.Winter, 1761.⁂ Charming rare polyglot pictorial encyclopaedia of trades, crafts and technology, including beekeeping, printing, engraving, zoo keeping, scientific instruments, military and naval equipment, building and construction.

Mordant (John) The Complete Steward: or, The Duty of a Steward to his Lord... Also a New System of Husbandry, wherein are Laid Down General Rules and Directions for the Management and Improvement of Farms, 2 vol., first edition, half-title to vol.2, folding table. woodcut illustrations, contemporary speckled calf, gilt, spines gilt in compartments with morocco labels, [Fussell p.51; Goldsmiths' 9662; Kress 5956; Perkins 1225], a good set, Printed for W.Sandby, in Fleet-Street, 1761 § Stone (Thomas) An Essay on Agriculture, with a view to inform Gentlemen of Landed Property, whether their Estates are managed to the Greatest Advantage, first edition, occasional light browning, contemporary calf, upper cover detached, [Goldsmiths' 12846; Kress B969], Lynn, W.Whittingham, 1785; and 6 others, stewardship and land management, 8vo & 4to (9)

Duhamel du Monceau (Henri Louis) and Mathieu Tillet. Histoire d'un Insecte qui devore les Grains de l'Angoumois, first edition, 3 folding engraved plates, contemporary French mottled calf, gilt, g.e., joints and corners a little worn, spine ends chipped, Paris, 1762 § Ducarne de Blangy (J.J.) Methode pour recueillir les Grains dans les annees pluvieuses, & les empecher de germer, folding engraved plate, contemporary French mottled calf, spine gilt, chipped at head, Paris, 1771 § Essai sur la Police Generale des Grains, contemporary calf, worn, Berlin, 1755 § Sage (B.E.) Analyse des Bles, 7 folding engraved plates, one torn, contemporary mottled sheep, spine gilt, some abrasions, Paris, 1776 § Memoire pour Parvenir a la Conservation des Grains, 16pp., modern cloth, Grenoble, 1753, 4to and 8vo (5)

Mills (John) A New and Complete System of Practical Husbandry, 5 vol., first edition, titles in red and black, engraved frontispiece and 18 folding plates (only of 19), contemporary calf, gilt, [Fussell p.133 'valuable collection of knowledge'; Kress 6041; Perkins 1200], 8vo, for R. Baldwin [c.], 1762-1765; A Treatise on Cattle, first edition, half-title, contemporary calf, gilt, [Fussell p.49], for J. Johnson, 1776 § Tusser (Thomas) Tusser Redivivus: Being Part of Mr. Thomas Tusser's Five Hundred Points of Husbandry, 12 parts in 11 in 1 vol. (all published), with general title, woodcut decorations, contemporary calf, J.Morphew, 1710; and 14 others, agriculture (21)

Political Economy.- Mirabeau (Victor Riqueti de) and Francois Quesnay. Philosophie Rurale, ou Economie Generale et Politique de l'Agriculture, first edition, half-title, 3 engraved tables, woodcut device on title, woodcut head-piece, occasional minor spotting, contemporary French mottled calf, spine gilt in compartments with red morocco label, [Kress 6120; Tchemerzine IV, 286], 4to, Amsterdam [i.e. Paris], chez les Libraires Associes, 1763.⁂ An excellent copy of this highly important and extremely rare collaborative work on the Physiocratic doctrine. The Journal des Economistes II, p.66 calls this work "le meilleur de Mirabeau." The last copy to appear at auction was in 1978.

Grain.- Griselini (Francesco) Nuova Maniera di Seminare, e Coltivare il Frumento..., first edition, folding engraved plate (slightly creased) , cropped, old marbled boards, Venice, Modesto Fenzo, 1763; another, enlarged, edition, title in red and black with woodcut device, folding engraved plate, 2 folding letterpress tables, one table torn, plate with small ink stains and short tear at edge repaired, contemporary half vellum over patterned-paper boards, spine gilt and a little wormed, Florence, Andrea Bonducci, 1764, 4to & folio (2)

Seed drill.- Randall (John) (Pursuant to the notice thrown out by the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.) The construction and extensive use of a newly invented universal seed-furrow plough (from time to time expos'd to the public view of abundance of people.) Upon an easy, steady principle, suited to all soils, stiff or light, level or ridg'd; and capable of sowing all sorts of seeds, in three rows, thicker or thinner, deeper or shallower, and the furrows or rows nearer or further asunder, just as the owner pleases, first edition, 7 folding engraved plates, occasional foxing or light browning, offsetting, plate 3 repaired at head (not affecting image), library cloth, [Fussell pp.58-59], 4to, Sold by John Wilkie, in St.Paul's Church Yard, [1764]. ⁂ Rare at auction. Here Randall is continuing the Tullian debate. He highlights the advantages of the Tullian system, especially when carried out with the aid of the 'ingenious' implements he has designed. His seed-furrow plough, along the lines of Tull's drill, was criticised as being too complicated and his system of husbandry was described by a fellow agricultural writer John Wynne Baker as 'founded on the labours of others'.

Randall (John) The Semi-Virgilian Husbandry, deduced from various experiments: or, an essay towards a new course of national farming, formed from The Defects, Losses, and Disappointments, of the Old and New Husbandry, and put on the true Biass of Nature, in the Production of Vegetables, and in the Power of every Ploughman, with his own Ploughs, first edition, 3 engraved plates, 2 folding, contemporary calf, spine rubbed, corners and spine ends a little worn, [Fussell pp.58-61; Perkins 1413], 8vo, printed for B. Law, in Ave-Maria Lane; Thomas Field, in Cheapside; and John Wilkie, in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1764.⁂ On Tull's system.

Harte (Walter) Essays on Husbandry, 2 parts in 1 vol, first edition, 5 engraved plates, woodcut illustrations, errata f., small portion of loss to front free endpaper, ink onwership inscription 'J.Kirke', contemporary gilt, spine in compartments and with red leather label, spine ends and corners a little bumped, upper joint cracked but holding firm, [British Bee Books 114; Fussell p.45-46; Hunt 608 (second edition); Perkins 758 (later edition)], Printed for W. Frederick in Bath, 1764 § Hales (Thomas) A Compleat Body of Husbandry, 4 vol., first Dublin edition, 16 engraved plates, some folding, bookplate of Lord Viscount Powerscourt to verso of titles, contemporary calf, spine labels chipped, [Fussell p.37], Dublin, printed for P. Wilson and J. Exshaw in Dame-Street, 1757; and 4 others, husbandry, 8vo (9)

Cesar (Constantin) Les XX livres de Constantin Cesar, ausquels sont traictes les bons enseignemens d'Agriculture, collation: A-Q6 R4, title within woodcut composite border, initial spaces with guide-letters, L1 hole within text, occasional staining, later calf-backed marbled boards, corners worn, edges worn, folio (340x 214mm.), Poitiers, Jean & Enguilbert de Marnef, frères, 1543.⁂ The extremely rare first edition. Provenance: Rothamsted acquisition date 1943.

Gardens.- Cooke (Samuel) The Complete English Gardener: or, Gardener's Monthly Chronicle...to which is added, The Compleat Bee-Master..., ?first edition, engraved frontispiece, contemporary ink inscription "Addis Archer 1768" to front free endpaper with several additional signatures and headings of months & subjects to text plus extensive notes to front endpapers, a little browned, one leaf creased, contemporary sheep with "Archer 1765" stamped in blind on upper cover, rubbed and stained, spine ends worn, [Henrey 577; Not in BL; cf.British Bee Books 133, other editions], 12mo, for John Cooke, [?1765].⁂ "There is some uncertainty about the date of this book". (British Bee Books). There is indeed: the British Library contains 4 different editions, all scarce, one being dated 1769 (one copy only, Cambridge University Library), the rest undated but none conforming to the edition offered here. Henrey lists 3 editions, including this (2 copies, this one and Kew), but puts the earliest dated c.1780. Evidently this is an earlier edition due to the owner's date of 1765 on the cover and 1768 internally.Cooke was gardener at Overton in Wiltshire. In addition to discussing all types of gardening there is also information on breeding and rearing poultry, rabbits and bees. He describes skep beekeeping and advises killing the bees to collect honey.

Cereals.- [Tozzetti (Giovanni Targioni) & others.] Sitologia ovvero Raccolta di Osservazioni, di Esperienze e Ragionamenti...des Grani e delle Farine per il Panificio..., 2 vol. in 1, first edition, engraved title-vignettes, original limp boards, uncut, a little soiled, Livorno, Marco Coltellini, 1765 § [Ronconi (Ignazio)] Il Piantatore o sia uovo Metodo di Piantare il Formento, folding engraved plate, with final blank, library cloth, Venice, Giovanni Lironcurti, 1770 § [Fontana (Felice)] Osservazioni sopra la Ruggine del Grano, folding engraved plate printed in sepia and with grey watercolour wash, some browning to text, contemporary half vellum, spine torn at head, Lucca, Jacopo Giusti, 1767 § Harasti (Gaetano) Della Coltivazione del Maiz..., engraved device on title, folding engraved plate, ?name erased from title, library cloth, Vicenza, 1788, 4to & 8vo (5)⁂ The third concerns wheat rust.

Flour and Bread.- Manetti (Saverio) Delle Specie Diverse di Frumento e di Pane siccome della Panizzazione Memoria, first edition, colophon leaf at end, contemporary vellum, red morocco label, Florence, Moücke, 1765 § Harasti (Gaetano) Della più Utile Coltivazione del Frumento Memoria, engraved device on title, 2 folding engraved plates, some light marginal soiling, marginal tear to B4, book-label inscribed "Canterzani" in ink (a little wormed), contemporary half calf, spine gilt with roan label, rubbed, Vicenza, Turra, 1784, 4to (2)

Levant.- Hasselquist (Frederik) Voyages and Travels in the Levant...containing Observations in Natural History, Physick, Agriculture, and Commerce, first English edition, half-title, double-page engraved map, some foxing and browning, bookplate of John Wightwick, contemporary calf, gilt, rubbed, upper cover almost detached, [Atabey 564], Printed for L. Davis and C. Reymers, 1766.⁂ "The first edition was published in Swedish as Iter Palaestinum, 1757. Hasselquist, a student of Linnaeus, was the first to undertake a systematic study of the natural history of the Holy Land. An important work." (Atabey).

Locke (John) Observations upon the Growth and Culture of Vines and Olives: the Production of Silk: the Preservation of Fruits, first edition, light browning to title and final f., later boards, spine chipped at head, [Henrey 986; Hunt 592], 8vo, Printed for W. Sandby, in Fleet Street. [by Richardson and Clark], 1766. ⁂ Rare at auction. Researched and written during Locke's time convalescing at Montpellier. The work was submitted as a manuscript to his patron the First Earl of Shaftesbury, but was not published until 87 years later by the fourth Earl.Provenance: Rothamsted acquisition date 1916.

Fens Drainage.- Badeslade (Thomas) The History of the Ancient and Present State of the Navigation of the Port of King's-Lyn, and of Cambridge, 4 folding engraved maps (2 hand-coloured) and 3 engraved plates, woodcut head-pieces and initials, some light browning, first map a little creased at fore-edge, contemporary tree calf, gilt, spine gilt with red morocco label, rubbed, splits to joints, upper cover becoming loose, folio, by L. Davis and C.Reymers..., 1766.⁂ A reissue of the first edition of 1725.

Pamphlets.- [Homer (Henry Sacheverell)] An Essay on the Nature and Method of ascertaining the Specifick Shares of Proprietors, upon the inclosure of common fields.... Particularly as far as they relate to the publick and the poor, first edition, ink ownership inscription to head of title, Oxford, Printed for S. Parker, 1766 bound with Bateman (Thomas) A Treatise on Agistment Tithe, ink ownership inscription to head of title, S.Crowder, [?1775] and [Smith (Charles)] Three Tracts on the Corn-Trade and Corn-Laws, second edition, ink ownership inscription to title, for the Author, 1766 and Bohun (William) A Tithing Table, Shewing (by way of Analysis) of What Things Tithes are or are not due, either by Common Law, Custom, or Prescription, second edition, [Goldsmiths 7292], printed by E. and R. Nutt and R. Gosling, 1735 and The Great Improvement of Commons that are Enclosed, for the Advantage of the Lords of Manors, the Poor, and the Publick, woodcut illustrations, title soiled, [Goldsmiths 6949], for J.Roberts, 1732, together 5 works in 1 vol., occasional spotting, contemporary calf-backed boards, rubbed, 8vo.⁂ Provenance: Thomas Broadley (ink ownership inscriptions).

Complete Farmer (The): or a General Dictionary of Husbandry, first edition, double column, engraved frontispiece and 27 plates, a very good, clean copy, ownership inscription to pastedown, contemporary calf, corners bumped, some splitting to joint ends but holding firm, [Perkins 379; not in Goldsmiths' or Kress], folio, printed for the authors; and sold by S. Crowder, at the Looking-Glass; J. Coote, at the King's Arms, in Paternoster-Row; and F. Blythe, near the Royal Exchange, 1766.

Enclosure.- [Homer (Henry Sacheverell)] An Essay on the Nature and Method of ascertaining the Specifick Shares of Proprietors, upon the inclosure of common fields. With Observations upon the Inconveniences of Open Fields, and upon the objections to their inclosure, Particularly as far as they relate to the publick and the poor, first edition, library cloth, Oxford, Printed for S. Parker, in the High-Street; and sold by T. Payne, at the Mews Back-Gate; and J. Fletcher, in St.Paul's Church Yard, 1766; and 9 others, enclosure and farm size, 8vo (10)

Mulberries & Silkworms.- Manni (Domenico Maria) Della Piantagione e Coltivatione de'Gelsi in Toscana..., title and final leaf stained at inner margin, library cloth, Florence, P.G.Viviani, 1767 § Alberti (Jacopo) Dell'Epidemica Mortalita de'Gelsi e della Cura, e Cotivazione Loro, title in red and black with engraved vignette (foxed and hole to vignette), engraved head-piece and initials, errata leaf at end, a few stains, contemporary vellum, ink signatures and doodles to boards, spine worn and defective at head, Salo, B.Righetti, 1773 § Castellet (Constans de) Istruzioni...di Coltivate i Gelsi, di Allevare i bachi da seta, e di Filar le Sete, first edition in Italian, engraved frontispiece, with final imprimatur leaf, foxed, library cloth, Turin, 1778, 4to & 8vo (3)

Miller (Philip) Abbildungen der nuetzlichsten, schoensten und seltensten Pflanzen, vol.1 only (of 2), first German edition, title with engraved vignette, 150 fine hand-coloured engraved plates, contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, worn, upper cover detached, [Nissen BBI 1379], folio, Nuremberg, A.W. Winterschmidt, 1768.⁂ First German edition of Miller's Figures of the most beautiful...Plants, 1755-60.

Fruit-trees.- [?Gibson (John)] The Fruit-Gardener. Containing the Method of Raising Stocks..., first edition, author's name supplied in ink on title, lightly browned, contemporary sheep, spine ends worn, [Henrey 724], for J. Nourse, 1768 § Hitt (Thomas) A Treatise of Fruit-Trees, third edition, 7 folding engraved plates, one or two with tears repaired, contemporary calf, red roan label, spine worn at foot, for Robinson and Roberts, 1768 § Forsyth (William) A Treatise on the Culture and Management of Fruit-Trees, third edition, half-title, 13 engraved plates, most folding, contemporary half calf, spine gilt, 1803, all a little rubbed, 8vo (3)

Vermin.- Smith (Robert, Rat-Catcher to the Princess Amelia) The Universal Directory for Taking Alive and Destroying Rats, and all other kinds of Four-Footed and Winged Vermin, in a method hitherto unattempted: calculated for the use of the Gentleman, the Farmer, and the Warrener, first edition, 6 engraved plates, 4 folding, offsetting, title browned, contemporary calf, joints splitting, corners bumped, for the author, 1768 § The Vermin-Killer: Being a Compleat and necessary Family-Book, shewing the ready way to destroy adders, badgers, birds of all sorts, earwigs, caterpillares, flies, fish, foxes... &c., lacking final advertisement f., library cloth, W.Owen, [c.1755] § Wright (Sir James) Observations upon the Important Object of Preserving Wheat and other Grain from Vermin..., first edition, half-title, bookplates of Lord Willoughby de Broke, contemporary speckled calf, upper cover detached, [Goldsmiths' 16648. Kress B. 3314], 4to, for J. Cooper, 1796, 8vo & 4to (3)

Bees.- Wildman (Thomas) A Treatise on the Management of Bees, first edition, list of subscribers, 3 folding engraved plates, contemporary ink inscription to head of title and notes "Manner of producing a Queen Bee" on rear free endpaper, occasional spotting, light offsetting to plates, contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt, spine worn at head and label chipped, for the Author, 1768 § Warder (Joseph) The True Amazons: or the Monarchy of Bees..., second edition, engraved portrait, lightly browned, penultimate leaf torn and frayed at upper outer corner, contemporary sheep, spine worn and defective, for John Pemberton, 1713 § [Bazin (G.A.)] The Natural History of Bees, first English edition, 12 folding engraved plates, contemporary calf, a little stained, for J.& P.Knapton, and P.Vailant, 1744, all rubbed, [British Bee Books 119, 74, 96], 8vo (3)

Livestock.- Buonfanti (Jacopo Antonio) Del Pollajo e della Colombaja Trattato Rustico Economico..., first edition, engraved plate of feeding poultry, Livorno, Marco Coltellini, 1768 § Dandolo (Vincenzo) Sulla Pastorizia, sull'Agricoltura e varj altri oggetti di Pubblica Economia: Discorsi, half-title, Milan, 1806 § Bassi (Agostino) Il Pastore Bene Istruito..., errata leaf and 2 engraved plates on single folding sheet at end, Milan, 1812, occasional foxing or soiling, library cloth, uncut; and 2 others, 8vo et infra (5)

Botany.- Vandelli (Domenico) Dissertatio de arbore draconis, sue dracaena, first edition, folding engraved plate (tear at edge repaired), title soiled, library cloth, Lisbon, A. R. Galliard, 1768 § MichelI (Pierantonio) Compendio della Relazione...intorno all'Erba orobanche detta volgarmente Succiamele..., light spotting, later boards, Florence, Andrea Bonducci, 1754 § Thierriat ( ) Osservazioni sopra la Cultura degli Alberi di Alto Fusto..., title stained, library cloth, Florence, 1767 § Plenk (G.G.) Fisiologia e Patologia della Piante, contemporary half sheep, spine gilt, Venice, G.Pezzana, 1798 § Gera (Francesco) Della Fecondazione delle Piante Memoria, second edition, half-title, Milan, 1830 bound with [Amoreux (P.-J.)] Traité de l'Olivier, second edition, folding table, 2 folding engraved plates, Montpellier, Gontier, 1784, together 2 works in 1 vol., old half cloth, spine faded, rubbed, 8vo et infra (5)

Grasses.- Schreber (Johann Christian Daniel) Beschreibung der Graesser nebst ihren Abbildungen nach der Natur, 2 parts (of 3) in 1, first edition, engraved title-vignette and another at head of dedication leaf, 40 hand-coloured engraved plates, lacking title to part 2 (as often, seemingly), some foxing, contemporary tree sheep, rubbed, most of morocco spine label missing, [Nissen BBI 1807], Leipzig, Siegfried Lebrecht Crusius, 1769-[72].⁂ Without the third part which appeared in 1810.

Lesbros (Louis) Traite des Muriers, half-title present but soiled and laid down, modern cloth, Paris, Chez la Veuve Pierres, 1769 § Frommel (J.C.) Theorie de la Culture du Trefle, modern cloth, Lausanne, 1784 § Dumortier (B. C. J.) Observations sur les Graminees de la Flore Belgique, presentation copy signed by the author on half-title, 16 lithograph plates, errata slip stuck to read pastedown, uncut in original boards, spine soiled, Tournai, 1823 § [Casaux (Marquis de)] Memoires sur l'Agriculture du Boulonnois et des Cantons Maritimes voisins, contemporary calf, Boulogne, 1784 § Ingen-Housz (J.) Experiences sur les Vegetaux, first French edition, folding engraved plate, some foxing and light water-staining, contemporary half vellum, Paris, Didot le jeune, 1780; and 62 others, French agriculture, v.s. (67)

Taylor (Adam) A Treatise on the Ananas or Pine-Apple, Containing plain and easy Directions for Raising this Most Excellent Fruit without Fire, and in much Higher Perfection than from the Stove...to which are added, full Directions for raising Melons, first edition, folding hand-coloured engraved frontispiece of a pineapple, folding engraved plate of a pineapple frame, partially hand-coloured, modern cloth, [Henrey 1420; Hunt 604; Bitting p.456], 8vo, Devizes, Printed by T.Burrough, for the Author, 1769. ⁂ Rare. Taylor was writing in response to a growing interest in the pineapple. He was gardener to a J.Sutton at New Park, Devizes.

Indigo manufacture.- Monnereau (Elie) The Complete Indigo-Maker. Containing, an Accurate Account of the Indigo Plant... With Oeconomical Rules... for a Planter how to Manage a Plantation, and Emply his Negoes to the Best Advantage. To which is added, a Treatise on the Culture of Coffee, first English edition, engraved folding frontispiece (closely shaved at foot), surface soiling to title, 20th century morocco-backed cloth, upper joint broken, spine faded, [not in Henrey], 12mo, P.Elmsly, 1769.⁂ Rare, ESTC lists the BL and Wellcome copies only. Monnereau was a planter living in Limonade, Haiti.

[Young (Arthur)] An Essay on the Management of Hogs; including Experiments on Rearing and Fattening them, first edition, slightly browned, new endpapers, library cloth, [Fussell pp.70-78; McDonald pp.190-195], Printed for W.Nicoll, No.51, in St. Paul's Church Yard, 1769; and another, second edition of the same, 8vo (2).⁂ Rare.

Gardens.- [Weston (Richard)] Tracts on Practical Agriculture and Gardening...By a Country Gentleman, first edition, engraved plate, lightly offset, contemporary calf, spine ends worn, lacking label, upper cover detached, [Fussell II pp.85-88; Henrey 1435], for S. Hooper, 1769 § Rural Recreations; or the Gardeners Instructor...By a Society of Practical Gardeners, first edition, engraved frontispiece, 12 engraved plates, 4 folding, some browning, bookplate of William Balston, contemporary tree calf, spine gilt, 1802 § Nicol (Walter) The Scotch Forcing and Kitchen Gardener, second edition, 5 folding engraved plates, foxed, original boards, uncut, spine worn and defective, upper cover becoming loose, Edinburgh, for the Author, 1798, rubbed; and 3 others, gardening, 8vo (6)⁂ The first includes a catalogue of English authors on husbandry, gardening, bees and related subjects, the first such bibliography. The main body of the work has much on fruit, wines, ciders and the fattening of poultry.

*** Please note, the description of the lot has changed *** Miniscalchi (Luigi) Mororum libri III. Carminum liber, first edition, engraved title-vignette and charming head- & tail-pieces and initials by Fran. Lorenzi and Dion. Valesi, with the final blank, occasional soiling to margins, contemporary patterned-paper boards, uncut, rubbed, spine worn and slightly defective, Verona, A. Carattoni, 1769 § Lorenzi (Bartolomeo) Della Coltivazione de' Monti Canto IV, engraved vignette-title, portrait of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and head- & tail-pieces and initials by F.Lorenzi, contemporary mottled calf with elaborate gilt borders and floral cornerpieces, spine gilt, g.e., handsome red and gilt floral endpapers, spine label chipped, Verona, 1778 § Baruffaldi (Girolamo) Il Canapajo...libri VIII, 2 parts in 1 including the Appendix on the cultivation of hemp at end, engraved title-vignette, 3 engraved plates, later half calf, splits to joints, Bologna, Lelio dalla Volpe, 1741 § Alamanni (Luigi) La Cotivazione...e Le Api di Giovanni Rucellai, engraved portrait, title in red & black with engraved vignette, some light foxing, contemporary vellum, Venice, Remondini, 1751, all but the last first editions, rubbed; and 3 others, 4to & 8vo (7)⁂ Poetry and other works on agricultural subjects such as silk-worms, hemp, bees etc.

Gardens.- [Whately (Thomas)] Observations on Modern Gardening, first edition, author's name supplied in manuscript on title and with notes on front free endpaper, small stain to margin of F3v, contemporary calf, joints cracked, [Henrey 1189], for T.Payne, 1770 § Mason (George) An Essay on Design in Gardening, second edition, "greatly augmented", lacking half-title, some light soiling, contemporary mottled calf, rubbed, spine a little worn and lacking label, [Henrey 1034], for B. & J.White, 1795 § [Marshall (William)] A Review of the Landscape, a Didactic Poem: also of An Essay on the Picturesque: together with Practical Remarks on Rural Ornament, first edition, half-title (loose), lightly browned, bookplate of George Home Drummond of Blair Drummond, original boards, uncut, worn, upper cover detached, 1795, the first two with embossed stamp of F.H. Cripps-Day to foot of titles and with his signature to front free endpapers, 8vo (3) ⁂ The first was commended by Horace Walpole in his own Essay on Gardening. Whately's brother owned Nonsuch Park in Surrey and it was here that he practised his art.

Varley (Charles) A New System of Husbandry, 3 vol., first edition, folding table, folding plate at rear of vol.1, some light scattered spotting, ink ownership inscription 'Alexander Lord Blantyre' to head of titles, contemporary half calf, a little rubbed, [Fussell p.91], York, for the author, 1770 § Banister (John) A Synopsis of Husbandry Being Cursory Observations in the Several Branches of Rural Oeconomy, half-title, folding table, M1 with horizontal tear, some scattered spotting, contemporary half calf, upper cover becoming loose, wear to spine, [Fussell p. 31], 1799 § Tibbs (Thomas) The Experimental Farmer: being strictures on various branches of husbandry and agriculture, half-title, errata f. at end, illustrations, library cloth, [Fussell p.64], for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, [c.1806] § Winter (George) A Compendious System of Husbandry, second edition, engraved frontispiece (light offsetting), occasional scattered spotting, contemporary half calf, joints cracked but holding firm, [not in Fussell], 1797; and 13 others, agriculture, 8vo (19)

[Young (Arthur)] The Farmer's Guide in Hiring and Stocking Farms, 2 vol., first edition, 10 engraved plates and diagrams (2 folding), publisher's advertisement leaf at end of vol. I, slightly browned, contemporary calf, gilt, corners rubbed and bumped, gilt spines, slightly rubbed, red morocco labels, [Kress 6765], 8vo, W. Strahan, W. Nicoll and others, 1770.⁂ One of Young's earliest books on English agricultural practices and a landmark work on farm management.

[Young (Arthur)] A Six Months Tour through the North of England..., 3 vol., first Irish edition, 27 engraved plates (14 folding) 5 folding tables, vol. I & II final blanks, browned, contemporary calf, corners bumped, Dublin, 1770; Travels... Kingdom of France, 2 vol., first Irish edition, Isaac Corry's copy with his bookplate on front pastedowns, 3 folding engraved maps (1 hand-coloured), vol. I half-title, last f. blank, vol. II ?lacks half-title, Y1 small piece of corner torn away slightly affecting catchword, 3C4 small stain at tail, lacks last f. ?blank, ink signatures of Smithson Corry at head of titles, later endpapers, later tree calf, rebacked, gilt spines, red and green morocco labels, slightly rubbed, Dublin, Messrs. R. Cross, P. Wogan and others, 1793; and c. 60 others, Arthur Young, including other editions of Tour in France, County Tours, Familiar letters, Experimental Agriculture, a 18 vol. set Le Cultivateur Anglois, Paris, 1801 etc., v.s., v.d. (c. 60).⁂ Second mentioned Isaac Corry (1753-1813), politician; of Newry.

Peters (Matthew) The Rational Farmer: or a Treatise on Agriculture and Tillage, second edition, engraved folding frontispiece, dedication f., W.Flexney, 1771; Winter Riches... A New Vegetable System for Agriculture, first edition, woodcut illustrations, one full-page, engraved plate, advertisement f., errata slip laid down on 2 K4 verso, W.Flexney, 1771; Agircultura; or the Good Husbandman, first edition, lacking final advertisement f., W.Flexney, 1776, uniform contemporary calf, gilt, spines gilt with red and green morocco labels, second with upper cover detached and spine chipped, [Fussell pp.96-7], 8vo (3)

Bees.- White (William) A Complete Guide to the Mystery and Management of Bees, first edition, engraved frontispiece, leaf with explanation to frontispiece at end (lightly foxed), for the author, [1771] bound after White (Stephen) Collateral Bee-Boxes: Or, a New, Easy, and Advantageous Method of Managing Bees, third edition, engraved frontispiece, for L.Davis and C.Reymers, 1764 and Isaac (J.) The General Apiarian..., engraved vignette title and folding plate, woodcut illustration, title lightly browned, Exeter, 1803, together 3 works in 1 vol., bookplate of Henry Thomas Ellicombe, contemporary half calf, rubbed, [British Bee Books 123, 109 & 156], 8vo ⁂ All scarce.

Weather.- Luc (Jean Andre de) Recherchés sur les Modifications de l' Atmosphere. Contenant l' Histoire Critique du Barometre et du Thermometre, 2 vol., first edition, 8 engraved plates, folding table, woodcut initials and head-piece, damp-staining, later boards, uncut, Geneva, 1772 § Claridge (John) The Shepherd of Banbury's Rules to Judge of the Changes of the Weather, light browning to title, library cloth, for W.Bickerton, 1744 § Pointer (John) A Rational Account of the Weather, second edition, half-title, lacking front free endpaper, contemporary calf, rather worn, Aaron Ward, 1738; and 5 others, climate and weather, 4to & 8vo (9)

Europe.- Marshall (Joseph) Travels through Holland, Flanders, Germany...reflecting their Agriculture, Population, Manufactures, Commerce..., 3 vol., first edition, vol.3 with ink signature to title and a few leaves becoming loose, handsome contemporary calf, spines gilt in compartments with red and green roan spines, slight wear to head of spines, 8vo, for J. Almon, 1772.

Potatoes.- Parmentier (Antoine) Examen Chymique des Pommes de Terre, first edition, occasional spotting and some marginal browning at beginning and end, contemporary French mottled sheep, spine gilt, rubbed, 12mo, Paris, Chez Didot, le jeune, 1773.⁂ Parmentier's earliest work on the potato.

Gardens.- Chambers (William) A Dissertation on Oriental Gardening...to which is added, An Heroic Epistle [by William Mason], in answer to Sir William Chambers..., first Dublin edition, lightly soiled, with small embossed stamp of F.H.Cripps Day to head of title and his signature on front free endpaper, old limp calf gilt, a little worn, rebacked, [Harris 117; Henrey 549], 8vo, Dublin, for W. Wilson, 1773.⁂ A treatise conceived by Chambers in response to the dull style of landscape gardening of 'Capability' Brown. Despite being exposed as a product of his imagination it includes some advanced ideas such as that gardeners should ''paint'' their flower borders, anticipating Gertrude Jekyll, and that there should be a centralised planning control for villages and towns. The work was first published in 1772 in both English and French and was very influential on the Continent. It also provoked a response of a satiric heroic epistle by Mason, the eleventh edition of which is included here.

Crescentiis (Petrus de) Ruralia Commoda [Italian] Il libro della agricultura, first Italian edition, collation: [*]6 a10 b-c8 d6 e-g8 h6 i8 l-n6 o8 aa6 bb8 cc6 dd-ff8 gg-ii6 ll-oo6 aaa6 bbb8, 201 leaves (of 202, lacking final blank), text in two columns, 43 lines, type: 2:106/107R, blank spaces for capitals, with guide letters, fol.125 with slight stain causing smudging to text on both sides, some foxing and occasional stains, mostly marginal but in a few places on text block, small marginal burn-hole to last few leaves, some finger-soiling, early 19th-century Italian red morocco, gilt-tooled border to covers, spine with simple gilt rules and lettering, marbled pastedowns and flyleaves, inner gilt dentelles, blue edges, corners and spine ends slightly rubbed, folio (328 x 227mm.), Florence, Nicolaus Laurentii, Alamanus, 15 July 1478.⁂ First edition printed in Italy, and the first edition in Italian or Florentine vernacular.The translator is anonymous but this version was highly praised for its purity and elegance by the Venetian humanist Pietro Bembo. This fine volume passed through the hands of several famous bibliophiles, such as Dimitrij Petrovič Burturlin, formerly director of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, and later resident in Florence, where he possibly purchased this copy. In August 1839 the Parisian sale of his impressive library was announced by the Journal de la Librairie: "Il sera vendu, vers la fin de l'année, la magnifique bibliothèque de feu M. le comte de Boutourlin, composée de plus de vingt-cinq mille volumes [...]On peut affirmer que depuis la vente Mac-Carthy, il n'a pas été livré aux enchères, en France, une collection de livres rares et de manuscrits, comparable à la bibliothèque de M. de Boutourlin; elle est des plus riches en éditions du quinzième siècle". The copy was later acquired by another distinguished book collector, the renowned Dante scholar Lord Vernon, one of the leading figures in the Anglo-Florentine community. Very scarce on the market.Provenance: bookplates of the following: Russian senator and diplomat Count Dimitrij Petrovič Buturlin (1763-1829; see Catalogue de la bibliothèque de feu M. le Comte D. Boutourlin. Deuxième partie, Paris 1840, lot 533, "in-fol. m.r.", sold for the high sum of 26 francs; Lord George John Warren, 5th Baron Vernon (1803-1866; see Catalogue of a choice selected portion of the famous library removed from Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire: including illuminated and other manuscripts, and rare printed books; the property of Lieut. Lord Vernon, London, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 10-12 June 1918, lot 165); purchased for the sum of £28 by the London bookseller Francis Edwards, 24 July 1918; the Italian bookseller Giuseppe Martini (see Catalogo della libreria di Giuseppe Martini. I. Incunaboli, Milano 1934, lot 142). Rothamsted acquisition date not notedLiterature: ISTC ic00973000; GW 7826; HCR 5837; BMC VI 627; Bod-inc C-483; IGI 3266; Goff C-973; Klebs 311.1; B.IN.G 581; Simon Bibliotheca Bacchica 581.

Cassianus Bassus. Der veltbaw, od' das buch von der veld arbeyt, collation: [*]4 [hand]4 [dagger]4 a-z A-V4 Gothic letter, near full-page woodcut map, some water-staining and packing, contemporary panelled vellum over boards, with later initials in black 'P. A. Z. L.' and date '1659', lacking leather ties, some ink staining, small 4to (195 x 105mm.), Strasbourg, Balthassar Beck, 1545.⁂ Rare first edition in German of this important work on the countryside. Includes a list of classical authors consulted. Provenance: Rothamsted acquisition date 1929.Literature: VD 16 C 1416.

Young (Arthur) Political Arithmetic. Containing Observations on the Present State of Great Britain; and the Principles of her Policy in the Encouragement of Agriculture... to which is added a memoir on the corn trade, first edition, slightly browned, front free endpaper loose, contemporary calf, corners bumped, gilt spine, red morocco label, [Kress 7066], 8vo, W. Nicoll, 1774.⁂ A second volume was published in 1779.

Grasses.- Improved Culture (The) of Three principal Grasses, Lucerne, Sainfoin, and Burnet, first edition, contemporary half calf, for G. Robinson, 1775 § Curtis (William) Practical Directions for Laying Down or Improving Meadow and Pasture Land, with an Enumeration of the British Grasses, folding engraved frontispiece and 7 plates, all hand-coloured, foxing, original cloth-backed boards, extremities worn, 1834 § Account (An) of the Results of Experiments on the Produce and Nutritive Qualities of Different Grasses...instituted by John Duke of Bedford, early 20th century half calf by Riviere & Son, 1813 § Holdich (Benjamin) An Essay on the Weeds of Agriculture, 5 hand-coloured engraved plates, library cloth, [c.1825] § Essay (An) on the Cultivation and Advantages of Green Crops, by an Irish Practical Farmer, manuscript index at end, library cloth, Dublin, 1813, 8vo and 4to (5)

Anderson (James) Essays relating to Agriculture and Rural Affairs, first edition, half-title, 3 folding engraved plates, contemporary sheep, joints cracking, spine ends chipped, Edinburgh, Printed for T. Cadell...and William Creech, 1775; another copy, 2 vol., second edition, 21 engraved plates (3 folding), some foxing and offsetting, contemporary vellum, Edinburgh, 1777; and 11 others by Anderson including 3rd (Dublin) and 4th editions of the same title, 8vo (14)

Ellis (John) A Description of the Mangostan and the Bread-Fruit...[with] Directions to Voyagers, for bringing over these and other Vegetable Productions, which would be extremely beneficial to the Inhabitants of our West India Islands, first edition, 4 engraved plates, a little foxed or browned, plates generally clean but offset, original boards, uncut, contemporary manuscript label with author and title pasted at head of upper board, rebacked and cornered in calf, rubbed, [Henrey 680; Nissen BBI 589], 4to, for the Author, sold by Edward and Charles Dilly, 1775.⁂ Proposal to import the mangosteen and breadfruit to the West Indies as a cheap and labour-friendly source of food for the people, notably the slaves on the plantations. This was also suggested by the West Indies Committee the same year, offering a prize for anyone transporting breadfruit, and gained the support of Sir Joseph Banks. The idea was finally put into practice when, in 1787, Lt. William Bligh left for Tahiti on the Bounty. Having stocked the ship with 1000 plants the Bounty embarked for the West Indies in April 1789 but after fewer than four weeks Fletcher Christian led the famous mutiny against Bligh.

Horses.- [Bracken (Henry)] Ten Minutes Advice to Every Gentleman going to purchase a Horse, first Dublin edition, Dublin, Peter Hoey, [?1775] bound after Thompson (Charles) Rules for Bad Horsemen, Dublin, James Hoey, 1771 and Worlidge (John) Mr. Worlidge's Two Treatises, engraved title and 5 plates, initial advertisement f., lacking a4 & 5, damp-staining, M.Wotton, 1694, together 3 works in 1 vol., contemporary half calf, rubbed, 8vo.⁂ All rare, the first not on ESTC, the second with only 2 copies (both University College Dublin) and also includes Richard Seymour's The Art of Riding.

Salvini (Giovanni) Istruzione al suo Fattore di Campagna, first edition, folding woodcut plate of pruning knives, light marginal soiling, Osimo, Domenicantonio Quercetti, 1775 § Trinci (Cosimo) L'Agricoltore Sperimentato..., half-title, browned and water-stained, becoming loose, Lucca, F.M.Benedini, 1769 § Tommaso (Antonio) Dieci Giornate in Villa, Venice, Zatta, 1764 § Benetti (Santo) L'Accorto Fattor di Villa, fourth edition, Venice, G.Zorzi, 1777, contemporary limp boards, the second patterned paper, spine faded and slightly defective, all uncut, a little rubbed and soiled, 8vo (4)

Lavoisier.- Recueil de Memoires et d'Observations sur la formation & sur la fabrication du Salpetre, first edition, half-title, 3 folding engraved plates, contemporary French mottled calf, spine gilt, rubbed, 8vo, Paris, Chez Lacombe, 1776.⁂ Includes an early contribution by Lavoisier: Sur l'existence de l'air dans l'acide nitreux, et sur les moyens de decomposer et de recomposer cet acide (pp.601-617)

Pamphlets.- Home (Henry, Lord Kames) The Gentleman Farmer. Being an Attempt to Improve Agriculture by Subjecting it to the Test of Rational Principles, first edition, 3 engraved plates, [Fussell pp.108-9], Edinburgh, W.Creech, 1776 bound with [Trusler (John)] A Way to be Rich and Respectable. Addressed to Men of Small Fortune, sixth edition, lacking final advertisement f., title soiled, [Fussell p.124], for the Author, 1787 and [Trusler (John)] Practical Husbandry, third edition, advertisement f., occasional foxing, [Fussell p.123], for the author, 1790 and Kent (Nathaniel) Hints to Gentlemen of Landed Property, new edition, 9 engraved plates only (of 10), [Fussell pp.101-103; Perkins 927], for J. Dodsley, 1775 and Home (Francis) The Principles of Agriculture and Vegetation, third edition, spotting, [Fussell p.36], A.Millar, 1762 and Stone (Thomas) An Essay on Agriculture, with a view to inform Gentlemen of Landed Property, whether their Estates are managed to the Greatest Advantage, first edition, [Fussell p. 126; Goldsmiths' 12846; Kress B969], Lynn, W.Whittingham, 1785, together 6 works in 1 vol., contemporary calf, spine broken, covers detached, 8vo.

Sardinia.- Gemelli (Francesco) Rifiorimento della Sardegna proposto nel Miglioramento di sua Agricoltura, 2 vol., first edition, vol.1 title in red and black, both titles with engraved vignette, occasional spotting, uncut in original wrappers, paper spine labels, spines torn, Turin, Giammichele Briolo, 1776 § Cossu (Giuseppe) Discorso Georgico, half-title, engraved head-piece, later morocco-backed boards by Tommaso Unia (bookbinder of Turin, with ticket), Cagliari, Stamperia Reale, 1787; and another on Sardinian agriculture, 4to and 8vo (4)

Ploughing.- Black (James) Observations on the Tillage of the Earth, and on the Theory of Instruments Adapted to this End, first edition, 11 engraved folding plates, lacking half-title, some creasing and a few closed tears to plates, F5 with closed tear to head, ink ownership stamp 'A.Cheale' to foot of title, contemporary half calf, a little rubbed, [Fussell p.98; Perkins 165], for P.Elmsly, 1777 § Small (James) A Treatise on Ploughs and Wheel Carriages, second edition (first Dublin edition), lacking half-title, 7 folding engraved plates, spotting and browning, bookplate and gilt ownership stamps to covers of Owen Wynne, contemporary calf, scuffed, [cf. Fussell pp. 98-99], Dublin, 1802 § Gray (Andrew) The Plough-Wright's Assistant; or, A Practical Treatise on Various Implements Employed in Agriculture, 16 folding engraved plates, light browning, library cloth, Edinburgh, 1808; and 2 others, ploughing, 4to & 8vo (5)

Alamanni (Luigi) La Coltivatione, first edition, first issue, collation: a-t8 u-x2 *2, fols. *1-*2 bearing the dedicatory epistle to 'Madama la Dalphina' bound after fols. x1 and x2 comprising the privilege of François I dated 28 August 1546, woodcut printer's device on title, title browned, foxing, some spots and soiling,19th-century russet morocco, spine faded, top edge darkened, a few scratches, upper joint slightly cracked at top, 4to (197 x 132mm.), Paris, Robert Estienne, 1546.⁂ The first issue, with 'con privilegi' on title, of this famous didactic poem in 5,000 verses, composed in imitation of Virgil's Georgica. Following the discovery of his part in a conspiracy against the Medici in 1522, Alamanni fled from Florence to France, where he joined the royal court and was recognised as one of the leading Italian poets of the age. It is the only book that the celebrated printer Robert Estienne issued entirely in a modern language other than French - even the imprint on the title-page is in Italian, 'Stampato in Parigi da Ruberto Stephano Regio Stampatore'; this is also the only book printed by Estienne in his larger italic type.Provenance: ownership inscription 'ex bibliotheca Xauerij de Sancto Blasio[?]' on title.Rothamsted acquisition date 1915.Literature: Adams A409; Fairfax Murray, French, 3; Mortimer, French, 10; Oberle 356; Renouard, Estienne, 69:22; Schreiber 88.

Scotland.- Anderson (James) Observations on the Means of Exciting a Spirit of National Industry; Chiefly Intended to Promote the Agriculture, Commerce, Manufactures, and Fisheries, of Scotland, first edition, presentation copy from the author to the Earl of Mansfield inscribed on front free endpaper, half-title misbound after preliminaries, with the "Addenda" pp. 527-534 at end, handsome contemporary tree calf, gilt, by Scott of Edinburgh with their small paper label pasted to foot of title, spine gilt in compartments with red morocco label, striped edges in blue and red, very slight wear to edges of boards and head of spine, an excellent copy, [Goldsmiths' 11528; Kress B.5; Einaudi 117], 4to, Edinburgh, for T. Cadell, London; and C. Elliot, Edinburgh, 1777.