Rennie, James. A Conspectus of the Butterflies and Moths found in Britain.
1st. Ed. Pub. William Orr. 1832 pp.xxxvii, errata, [ii], 287 with vignette title-page. Small 8vo. Hardback. With dated signature of William Buckler (May 29th. 1855) and his neat annotations to twelve leaves. Small piece excised from ffep. and half-title. Some spotting o/w. contents fine. Period green cloth, spine more recently relaid, in thor. vg. to nr. fine condition. A unique copy.
‘For the last quarter-century of his life, William Buckler [1814-1884] devoted his energies to drawing and describing caterpillars of British moths and butterflies, [his] ‘Larvae of the British Butterflies and Moths’....was rightly hailed as the finest set of such illustrations ever made. It still is.’ (Salmon). For a fascinating biography of Buckler, we recommend reading Salmon’s ‘The Aurelian Legacy’.
£275.00 [ref: 63756]

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Repton, Humphry. Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening. Including some Remarks on Grecian and Gothic Achitecture.
1st. Ed. Pub. J. Taylor, London. 1803 pp. 16, 222 [2], frontis., (portrait of author), 27 plates. Fourteen overslips. Collated and complete. 4to. Portrait and one engraved plate lightly foxed. A little, light offsetting. Double-page plate has small, neat repair at fold. Otherwise contents in fine condition. Prov: Bookplate of Walter Ambrose Harding, Madingley Hall, Cambridgeshire. Recently rebound in handsome, period-style, half-brown calf-leather with marbled boards by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath. Spine richly gilt tooled and lettered. Binding in fine condition.
First edition of the second of Repton's three works featuring his ingenious use of folding overslips to show the estates before and after improvement. "These three works are chiefly compiled from the author's 'Red Books' and are illustrated with facsimiles of the original sketches, engraved in aquatint. These publications are important as records of Repton's work and views as a landscape gardener. But they are also among the finest examples of books to appear in this country illustrated by the aquatint process" (Henrey).
£7,950.00 [ref: 49126]

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Roberts, Peter. The Cambrian Popular Antiquities; Or an account of some Traditions, Customs, and Superstitions, of Wales with observations as to their origin, &. &c.
Printed for E. Williams. 1815 pp.[ii], viii, 360 with 9 fine hand-coloured plates and 1 b/w. plate. 8vo. Hardback. Very minor indications of age, o/w. contents exceptionally clean and in fine condition. Recent handsome half leather over marbled boards, with gilt lettering to spine, very gently sunned to spine o/w. in fine condition. A very pleasing copy.
£250.00 [ref: 68557]

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Robinson, William. Flora and Sylva. A monthly review for lovers of Garden, Woodland, Tree or Flower; New and Rare Plants, Trees, Shrubs, and Fruits; the Garden Beautiful, and Home Landscape
1st. Ed. Pub. London. 1903 Three volume set bound in original blue cloth with 66 fine chromolithograph plates. Small folio. Hardbacks. Minor amount of foxing, o/w. contents in fine condition. Original blue cloth bindings showing some light wear at extremities, o/w. in thor. vg. condition.
This work was originally released in monthly parts and then bound at a later date. A sumptuous, superb work.
£295.00 [ref: 34934]

Robinson, William. Gravetye Manor, Or Twenty Years’ Work round an Old Manor House.
1st. Ed. Pub. John Murray. 1911 pp.xii, [ii], 155 with plates and illus. Folio. TEG. Prov: Period armorial bookplate with motto ‘Le Jour Viendra’ to ffep. With the bookplate of Peter Herbert, former owner and rejuvinator of Gravetye Manor to verso of ffep. Spotting to ends, plate tissue guards (one with a tear and a little loss) and only very occ. internally o/w. contents exceptionally clean and fine. Original vellum with gilt lettering to front cover and spine, (silk ties removed) marked o/w. thor. vg. A pleasing copy.
Peter Herbert purchased Gravetye Manor in 1958 and set about restoring William Robinson’s gardens.
£250.00 [ref: 66710]

Robinson, William. Home Landscapes. Illustrated with Sun Pictures taken in the Farms, Woods, and Pleasure Grounds of Gravetye Manor by George Champion.
1st. Ed. Pub. John Murray. 1914 Title-page, preface, contents leaves and plate No. 1 removed. Half-title present, as are all the remaining text pages (78) and plates (31). Folio. TEG. Minor spotting. Period half calf binding in thor. vg. condition. William Robinson’s copy with his many annotations, some extensive, alongside two sheets of emendations on lined paper and stapled to the pages he intended to revise. A ‘Times’ newspaper article (c.1934) by English architect Stanley Adshead discussing Gravetye Manor and its importance, both architecturally and horticulturally, is attached to the half-title. Also with the bookplate of Peter Herbert, former owner and rejuvinator of Gravetye Manor, to ffep. Lastly, a 10in x 8in copy print of Francis Dodd’s portrait of William Robinson (completed in 1908 and held in the National Portrait Gallery, London) in decorative card mount, with Peter Herbert’s ownership details, is loosely inserted. A wonderful item.
A second edition of ‘Home Landscape’ was published in 1920, but the annotations and emendations noted here by William Robinson were not included. Peter Herbert purchased Gravetye Manor in 1958 and set about restoring William Robinson’s gardens.
£795.00 [ref: 67425]

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Robinson, William. Home Landscapes. With views taken in the Farms, Woods, and Pleasure Grounds of Gravetye Manor.
2nd. Ed. Pub. John Murray. 1920 pp.xii, 98, index (75-79) with 32 photographic plates, plus Supplement title-page and 12 further plates. Folio. Hardback. Printed on handmade paper, edges rough-cut as published. With the bookplate of Peter Herbert, former owner and rejuvinator of Gravetye Manor, to ffep. Contents very clean and in nr. fine condition. Original green cloth binding with gilt lettering to spine, in thor. vg. condition - has benefited from having its spine professionally relaid. The preferred, more comprehensive, second edition.
William Robinson (1838-1935) is broadly considered as the Father of Modern Gardening. Peter Herbert purchased Gravetye Manor in 1958 and set about restoring William Robinson’s gardens.
£275.00 [ref: 67849]

Robinson, William. Wood Fires for the Country House & Cottage. Showing the beauty and use of the wood fire.
Pub. John Murray. [1924] pp.115, [i] with illus. and plans. Small 4to. Hardback. Prov: Author’s presentation copy with ‘John Stuart, From the author, Clematis time 1924’ hand-written by William Robinson to half-title. Also with bookplate of Peter Herbert, former owner and rejuvinator of Gravetye Manor to front pastedown. Some spotting to fore-edges of text block, a little darkening to end-papers o/w. contents almost free of spotting and fine. Original tan cloth with gilt lettering in thor. vg. condition.
William Robinson is broadly considered as the Father of Modern Gardening. Born in Ireland in 1838 and renowned for his wild and natural approach to gardening, he went on to establish his internationally acclaimed garden at Gravetye Manor in Sussex.
£475.00 [ref: 66709]

Rodd, Edward Hearle & (Harting, James Edmund (Ed.)). The Birds of Cornwall and the Scilly Islands.
1st. Ed. Pub. Trubner & Co., Ludgate Hill. 1880 pp.lvi, 320 with portrait frontis. and fold-out map. 8vo. Hardback. Repairs to map, contents nr fine. Rear internal hinge a little tender. Original decorated brown cloth boards with gilt lettered spine nr. fine. Harting’s own copy with his bookplate to front pastedown and ‘Editor’s Copy, 12th July 1880’ handwritten to half-title. With Trubner’s very scarce 4-page pre-publication advert which provided background information to the work and a subscription form for interested buyers - Trubner stated that the work would not be published unless 250 copies were subscribed for. Furthermore, Harting corrected the advert, completed the subscription form (adding his address and dating it) and wrote that Trubner had informed him that more than 400 copies were taken up in the County of Cornwall and that the success of the book exceeded Trubner’s expectations. A wonderful copy and archive.
The first dedicated avifauna of the county, edited by Harting after the author's death. This copy contains Harting’s copious (meticulous) notes, annotations and clippings from newspapers and journals. For example, he has indicated the locations of Nightingale sightings on the map. Comes with 25 handwritten letters. Contains a wonderful drawing and description of a ‘Nuthatches nest’ in Harting’s hand. Also with a duplicate copy of the Appendix, pages 279 to 303 and pages 313 to 316.
£2,775.00 [ref: 62942]

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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew [Stiff. Ruth, L.A. (Curator)]. The Flowering Amazon. Margaret Mee Paintings from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
1st. Ed. Pub. RBG Kew. 2003 A fascinating RBG portfolio produced to advertise the availability of a touring exhibition of Margaret Mee’s artwork (and anthropological artefacts) entitled ‘The Flowering Amazon’. The portfolio targetted institutions who may want to act as a host venue and comprises a 6-page, colour, illustrated promotional brochure. The brochure provides background information on the exhibition, the specifications needed to host it, participation fees, the tour schedule and requirements. Furthermore, four A4 illustrated sheets (each with a colour projector slide) provide detail on four pieces of art that form part of the exhibition. Housed in purpose made RBG Kew card folder with RBG Kew seal. Also comes with a 48-page colour book entitled ‘The Amazon Collection’ produced to support the Margaret Mee exhibition of the same name which was held at the Kew Gallery in 2001. Fine condition. A wonderful piece of Margaret Mee ephemera.. Scarce.
‘The Flowering Amazon’ exhibition toured the USA from May 2004 onwards, starting at The New York Botanical Garden. The colour projector slides illustrate Rudofiella aurantiaca (1971), Aechmea rodriguesiana (1977), Neoregelia margaretae (1979) and Cattleya violacea (1981).
£100.00 [ref: 67864]