Annales de pomologie belge et étrangère; publiées par la Commission royale de pomologie [...].

8 vol., large 4to; 307 (of 384) pl. (some very min. browning and offsetting).

Contemp. half dark shagreen, green cloth on covers, gilt-orn. spines with 6 raised bands (spines faded, somewhat rubbed, corners sl. rubbed). Good set.

Luxurious edition published in instalments by the greatest Belgian specialists of the 19th c., i.a. the nurseryman Alexandre Bivort (1809-1872), the director of the Vilvoorde horticultural school Laurent de Bavay (1795-1855) and a Namur man, passionate about horticulture, Auguste-Philippe Royer (1796-1867). It describes some 450 types of fruits and is illustrated with 307 superb hand-coloured lithographic plates picturing incredibly realistic fruits of which many are pears and apples but there are also apricots, cherries, figs, strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, peaches, plums, grapes, etc. "De toutes les revues de pomologie fondées vers le milieu du siècle passé, et qui donnent l'iconographie des dernières créations, celle-ci est sans conteste la plus importante" (Hortus Belgicus). With some obituaries of members. Table at the end of each part, general table in part VIII.
Ref. Hortus Belgicus [Exhibition cat.], Brussels, 1962, 67. - Opac KBR. - BnF. - COPAC. - Not in Pritzel, Nissen, Plesch.