This beautiful leather edition of Ladies Botany features A Familiar Introduction to the Study of Botany by John Lindley was published by Henry G Bohn in 1847. So the book is from the early Victorian era. It's bound in contemporary calf with beautiful marbled text block edges. There is gilt tooling and five raised bands to the spine, with a red leather title label.
The book features fifty numbered hand-coloured wood-cuts to text. The book was designed for the use of schools and young persons as an introduction to Botany.
It's in very good condition but there is sunning and discolouration to the spine, with rubbing to the surface of the leather. There is also discolouration around the edges of the boards and the leather shows some scuffing and minor chipping. The corners are worn and crushed, with the leather split slightly to reveal the board peeking out beneath, The top edge of the text block is dulled.
Inside, there is age toning throughout, with occasional foxing. There are no inscriptions which is unusual in a book of this age. One page segment sticks out slightly from the edge of the text block.
The hand coloured woodcut illustrations within the text are small and delicate but very striking.
Dimensions approximately 18.5cm x 11.3cm x 2.8cm.
The book will arrive hand wrapped in patterned wallpaper and ribbon.
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 oxo-degradable and the clear bubble wrap is 100% recyclable. I also reuse boxes when I feel it's appropriate (if the boxes are sturdy enough).Half