The Pinetum Britannicum. A descriptive account of Hardy Coniferous Trees, cultivated in Great Britain.

Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Son, [1863]-1884.

First Edition, 3 volumes,Folio (555 x 417 mm), pp. (6), errata leaf, 110; (2), 111-216; (2), 217-330, Contemporary Red Half Morocco, with 48 hand-coloured lithographed plates, 4 mounted albumen prints, 1 engraved map, occasional light foxing of text, plates in fine condition, a very handsome copy.

FIRST EDITION of one of the greatest British works on Pines. The Pinetum Britannicum is regarded as a landmark publication on conifers, and both Napoleon III and Queen Victoria subscribed to its first edition.

This wonderful, illustrated work was the result of over twenty years of collaboration and research. The tree portraits in colour are predominantly from the original drawings of William Richardson, those of cones and leaves by Dr Greville and James and Robert Black, and the characteristic sketches of the Deodar Cedars in vol. 3 were captured ‘in the field’ by Lady Canning during her time in India.

The extensive woodcut illustrations throughout the text were also executed by multiple hands; Andrew Murray, James M’Nab, Dr Greville and Dr Maxwell T Masters. Meanwhile, leading conifer specialists of the day, from institutions such as the British Museum, Royal Horticultural Society and Royal Botanical Gardens, as well as individual professors from Florence, Berlin and Paris, and several private experts, all contributed to enhance the publication.

On its commencement in 1863, the project received immediate royal support; Queen Victoria requested the work be dedicated to the memory of the recently deceased Prince Albert and provided photographs of two specimens at Osborne House for inclusion, while Emperor Napoleon III secured thirty copies for distribution among French schools of Forestry and Agriculture. Considered one of the great British works on coniferae, the Pinetum Britannicum is  ONE OF THE GREATEST CONIFEROUS ICONOGRAPHIES OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

Nissen BBI 1588; Great Flower Books p. 71; Stafleu-Cowan TL2 8685