The American Flora, or History of Plants and Wild Flowers: containing their scientific and general description, natural history, chemical and medical properties, mode of culture, propagation, &c. designed as a book of reference for botanists, physicians, florists, gardeners, students, etc. by STRONG, Asa B - 1855

New York: Hull & Spencer, 1855 The American Flora, or History of Plants and Wild Flowers: containing their scientific and general description, natural history, chemical and medical properties, mode of culture, propagation, &c. designed as a book of reference for botanists, physicians, florists, gardeners, students, etc. // New York // Hull & Spencer, 1855, 4 volumes, octavo. 4 lithographic frontispieces (1 uncoloured portrait of the author, 1 hand-coloured portrait of Linnaeus, 2 hand-coloured plates), 4 hand-coloured lithographic additionnal titles, 182 lithographic plates, some printed in colours, all finished by hand, extra-illustrated with a duplicate plate in vol. III ('Belladonna Lily') and 4 leaves of duplicate text (pp. 35-42), also in vol. III. (Some spotting and browning as usual). Original publisher's red cloth gilt, covers with a gilt-ruled border around a large rococo design incorporating the title, the flat spine with a decorative overall design incorporating the title, volume number and the publisher's name at the foot, gilt edges (small expert repairs to spines). Covers are lightly rubbed and soiled, but still in good condition and tight. // A beautifully bound four-volume set of the later issue of this complicated work with charming plates, including the very rare fourth volume: "Complete sets... are extremely difficult to locate" (Bennett). This work was first issued periodically between 1846 and 1850. The present re-issue was published in 1855 and is recorded, with a limited amount of detail, by Stafleu & Cowan (they admit that their data is "obviously incomplete"). A definitive collation for this work is problematic, as Stafleu & Cowan state: "The copies listed in the National Union Catalog show a great variation." Bennett writes: "The publisher clearly did not count pages of color plates when listing the numbers on the title pages, but counted every separate item on each page." (p.103). The present copy with its duplicate plate and text bears mute testament to the haphazard production methods applied to this work, whilst the binding is a very fine example of decorated publisher's cloth - the gilt design blocked on the covers is particularly note-worthy. CF. Bennett p.103; cf Bradley Bibliography III, p.58; cf McGrath p.218; cf Stafleu & Cowan TL2 13.290. PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST