SILVA or, a Discourse of Forest Trees, and the Propagatin of Timber in His Majesty's Dominions: As it was Delivered in the Royal Society on the 15th Day of October, 1662

Evelyn, John

Published by printed by A. Ward for J. Dodsley, Pall Mall; T. Cadell, in the Strand; J. Robson, New Bond St. And T. Durham, Charing Cross , London. W. Creech and J. Balfour, Edinburgh, York, 1776

About this Item

Large Quarto. Original subscribers copy with a later family member's small name plate and name neatly written and dated 1861 on the first blank. The SIXTH EDITION. Engraved frontispiece of John Evelyn, (3)pp. editor's preface, (8)pp. subscriber's list, which includes such names as Francis Bacon, James Boswell, (J)ames Cook, Edward Gibbons; etc. (13)pp. The Life of Mr. John Evelyn, (3)pp. dedication to the king, Charles II, (17)pp. "to the reader", (2)pp. advertisement, (1)pp. Greek poem by Evelyn, (1)-649pp., (1) large folding explanatory table, (9)pp. index, containing forty (40) plates (one folding) as called for by (Henrey, 137), plate from p. 119 mis-placed to facing p. 89, bound in contemporary brown diced calf, professionally rebacked retaining the old spine (laid down) and original marbled endpapers, board edges with single rules in gilt, inner gilt dentelles, all edges gilt; gilt lettering to spine gone, occasional light off-setting of some plates. An outstanding copy of one of the most important books written on forestry, newly updated to provide the latest discoveries by Andrew Hunter, who felt anyone with land should plant or at least nurture the trees they already had, rather than wait until they are too old to plant a new tree to replace that tree which soon will die along with the owner. Hunter states that anyone can plant a tree but will they know species they are planting? Will they know how to nurture that newly planted tree? This edition is regarded by most, the best edition. The Editor, Andrew Hunter did not include "Pomona" or "Kalendarium Hortense" as he believed these were not appropriate: Let me quote from the Editor's Preface: "I have nothing left but to observe, that the liberties I have taken with the Text, in a variety of places, are warranted from a careful Collation of the five Editions with some Original Manuscripts, without which I could not possibly have proceeded with any degree of satisfaction; for of all the books in the English Language, there are, perhaps, none so corrupted as the two last editions of the Silva: The one printed in 1704; the other in 1729." A lovely, wide margined copy, internally clean and bright. Seller Inventory # 5053

Bibliographic Details

Title: SILVA or, a Discourse of Forest Trees, and ...

Publisher: printed by A. Ward for J. Dodsley, Pall Mall; T. Cadell, in the Strand; J. Robson, New Bond St. And T. Durham, Charing Cross , London. W. Creech and J. Balfour, Edinburgh, York

Publication Date: 1776

Binding: Full-Leather

Condition: Very Good+