ROBERTSON, William (1770-1850)

Collection de Differéntes Espèces de Serres Chaudes, pour Forcer des Ananas, des Arbres Fruitiers, et pour Preserver des Plantes Exotiques Délicates

London: R. Ackermann, 1798 [plates watermarked 1816]. Oblong quarto. (9 5/8 x 13 3/4 inches). [4]pp, plus 24 aquatint plates (22 coloured), interleaved with descriptive letterpress for each plate. Uncut.

Contemporary boards, rebacked to style. Contained in a modern quarter morocco backed box.

Scarce illustrated work of designs for heated greenhouses to cultivate exotic trees and plants.

Robertson, an Irish architect, devised these heated garden buildings with practical advice and tips for their construction. His plans show stoves for peach, pine and cherry trees, greenhouses and conservatories for the cultivation of particular exotic fruits and plants, and a plan of a kitchen garden. The work was issued simultaneously in English and French. "The following Work is respectfully offered to the Public, under the idea of its being the first of the description published in this kingdom. Engravings of many of their forms are to be met with, it is true, in many works on gardening; but it can also be with truth asserted, that (with very few exceptions) they serve to convey no more than a general idea of their forms; which may satisfy a theorist, but is insufficient for a practical gardener..." (Preface from the English issue).

Abbey Life 62 (English issue).

Item #36666

Price: $4,500.00