Burnside Rare Books

[Herbarium] British Plants: Class 24th & British Flowers: Classes 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 4th.

[Anonymous]; [Ronald C. Fiske]

Norfolk, UK: [No publisher], 1837-1860.

Two large herbaria with hundreds of plant specimens collected in 19th-century Norfolk, England pertaining to flowering plants and mosses. Bound in contemporary half leather over marbled boards with morocco spine labels stamped in gilt. British Plants contains approximately 90 specimens with no manuscript identifcations. British Flowers contains 186 specimens with manuscript Latin identifications. 276 specimens all together. Each 15 x 10 x 4.5". Folios. Very Good with rubbing at extremities of each binding, toning to marbled boards, split at rear joint of Flowers, bookplates of Norfolk history enthusiast, noted bibliophile and collector of Admiral Lord Nelson materials Ronald C. Fiske (d. 2018) on front pastedowns. Plant roster in old hand laid in front of Flowers. All specimens intact with only a few spots of loss, heavy rodent gnawing to British Plants at mid-gatherings affecting some plates at edges and manuscript notations.

Carefully compiled by an anonymous botanical enthusiast over the course of nearly 25 years, each mount is artfully arranged and beautifully preserved. Herbaria of this size from the 19th century are increasingly scarce, particularly hailing from one single location. Item #140948358

Price: $4,000