This beautiful First Series edition of Familiar Wild Flowers would have originally been part of a set of 5 books. It is bound in green cloth over bevelled boards with gilt decoration to the front board and spine. The book features a hand painted floral image to the front boards and the text block edges are gilt. It was published by Cassell, Petter, Galpin and Co and even though the book is undated, it would have originally been issued in monthly parts from 1878 to 1884. This binding was issued just after this - so the book is from the late Victorian era.
***Please note that the book is missing its frontispiece***
Externally, the book is in very good condition with the main flaw being a slight backwards lean (this occurs when books are packed too tightly on the shelf). The corners show light wear with very slight fraying to the cloth of one corner. The green cloth shows minor marking and there is crushing to the spine ends.
Inside the book is showing more wear…the pages show age toning and scattered foxing throughout. There are cracks to the gutter throughout and some of the page segments sit unevenly on the binding (sticking out from the edge of the text block). A few colour plates are missing their tissue guards and a couple of the tissue guards have chips to the edges. As mentioned above, one plate is missing.
Each flower is illustrated in colour by Hulme and described in detail, including its habitat and medicinal use. There were eventually nine volumes, the last of which was published posthumously.
Dimensions of each volume is 19.8cm x 14cm x 3cm.
The books will arrive securely wrapped in bubble wrap, patterned wallpaper and string.
I use a range of eco friendly, 100% recyclable jiffy bags and boxes, and whenever possible I use brown paper tape. The green bubble wrap is biodegradable and the clear bubble wrap is 100% recyclable. I also reuse boxes when I feel it's appropriate (if the boxes are sturdy enough).