This stunning edition of The Marine Botanist; An Introduction to the Study of British Seaweeds by Isabella Gifford was published by R Folthorp in 1853. So the book is early Victorian. It's bound in original green cloth with embossed detail to the boards and gilt decoration and lettering to the spine. It was the third edition.
During the Victorian era, Marine Botany (or Algology) exploded in popularity, serving as a socially acceptable way for women to study science. The study of flowers for women was seen as "scandalous" because of the floral reproduction diagrams found in traditional botany. Seaweed lacks traditional plant genitalia because it is not actually a plant (it is part of a group called macroalgae). Collectors—affectionately known as "seaweeding" ladies—would brave the coastlines at low tide to harvest and identify different seaweeds. Often they would later press algae specimens into beautiful, lace-like scrapbooks and albums. Isabella Gifford was a botanist who specialised in seaweeds from the British coast. She was born near Brecon, Wales, in 1825, and lived in France, Jersey and Falmouth.
It's in good condition but there is wear and crushing to the corners and the boards show rubbing and marking. There is some slight damp damage to the corners which has just discoloured the cloth slightly. There is a slight forward lean to the book. The spine is sunned and spotted, whilst crushing to the spine ends has caused minor splitting in the cloth.
Inside, the front free endpaper has been removed and there is some surface damage to the front pastedown where a name plate has been removed. There is a bookseller's sticker in the top corner of the front pastedown; there is both a small pencil scribble and penned name to the half title page. The pages show light age toning and scattered foxing throughout. There are occasional cracks to the gutter but the pages remain tightly bound.
The book features 6 colour plates and 6 black and white plates.
Dimensions approximately 17.5cm x 11.7cm x 3.3cm.
The book will arrive hand wrapped in 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 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).