Beschreibung:

xvi, [4], 294 pp. Folding lithographed frontispiece printed on india paper and mounted; 140 hand-colored engraved plates after R.C. Stratford. (4to) 28.7x19 cm (11¼x7½"), disbound, rear cover present but detached, spine strip partially perished. One of 50 copies. First Edition. Presentation copy inscribed on front flyleaf, above the printed limitation slip: "For Edward Forster, Esq. F.R.S. &c. From the Duke of Bedford." A rare and exceptional series of meticulously rendered hand-colored plates depicting the willows in the famous garden, the "Willow Ground", at the family seat of the Duke of Bedford. The garden boasts a collection of over 200 different species of English willow, conceived by George Sinclair (the Duke of Bedford credits him with initiating the idea in the introduction), and carried out by James Forbes his successor, the author of the present work. Perforated stamp of John Crerar Library to upper right corner of title page, withdrawn rubberstamp on the verso.