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York: Printed by A. Ward for J. Dodsley et al., 1786. 4to, 2 vols: [46], 311, [9] pp. with portrait and 29 plates (1 folding); [2], 343, [10] pp. with 14 plates (2 folding), plus Terra [viii], 74, [4] pp. with separate title page, 2 tables and 1 plate. In total portrait and 44 plates (3 folding) and 2 tables. Contemporary calf, recently rebacked preserving original labels. Early ink signature of Charles Talbot on the title pages, later ownership inscriptions on dedication and front free endpapers. Boards a little scuffed and worn, pastedowns split at joints, occasional light offsetting from the plates and negligible foxing, some creasing and closed tears to folding plates, but overall a very good, bright, well-margined copy with clean plates. § A handsome wide-margined copy of the last (and most complete) edition of the 18th- century. "The Royal Society, founded in 1660 and patronised by Charles II in 1661, finally received its Royal Charter with permission to publish in 1662. The first books to be produced under this new permission were Robert Hooke s Micrographia and John Evelyn s Sylva, first published in 1664. Evelyn was one of the founding members of the Royal Society, a keen diarist (for which he is best known) and a scholar with a wide range of interests in the new sciences. His book Sylva came about as a result of a request to the Royal Society by the Commissioners of the Navy for a report on forestry. Forests were at the time being extensively plundered by the Royal Navy in its demand for more ships, and Evelyn recommended new planting to meet the demand for more wood and provide for the future. One such suggestion by Evelyn was for the nobility to plant grand tree lined avenues of oak trees leading to their country estates. This, he argued, would provide both a useful supply of timber for warships and would optically enhance the view along the primary driveway. The book went into several editions, continuing to be expanded and published by presses throughout Britain such as this illustrated 1786 edition printed in York by the bookseller Ann Ward, until the early nineteenth century." (Royal Collection Trust). This new edition is the first to contain Evelyn's Terra (originally published as A Philosophical Discourse of Earth, 1676), his notable contribution to horticulture. Henrey British Botanical and Horticultural Literature Before 1800, p.138; Oak Spring Silva 33. Reese Sale (2022) $4410. Seller Inventory # 126028
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