Annales de pomologie belge et étrangère [...].

8 vol., large 4to (some sl. staining, soiling to verso of pl. 13 in vol. I, sm. foxing, tears in some vol. strengthened - esp. to title of vol. VIII -, half titles of vol. I-II sl. browned, half title of vol. VIII lacking, marg. damp stain to half title of vol. V, margins repaired to pp. 101-104 of vol. VII).

Mod. three-quarter green shagreen, marbled paper covers, spines with raised bands (spines faded). Very nice complete 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 384 superb hand-col. lithographic plates (48 x 8), picturing incredibly realistic fruit 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. Copy granted by the Belgian government to P. Ch. Cassiers, "instituteur communal de Contich", with a compliment ms. letter mounted at the begin. of vol. I.
Ref. Hortus Belgicus [Exhibition cat.], Brussels, 1962, 67. - Opac KBR. - BnF. - COPAC. - Not in Pritzel, Nissen, Plesch.