![DECAISNE, Joseph (1807-1882). Le Jardin Fruitier du Muséum ou iconographie de toutes les espéces et variétés d'arbres fruitiers. Paris: Firmin Didot fraeres, [1858-]1862-1875.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2013/NYR/2013_NYR_02717_0046_000(decaisne_joseph_le_jardin_fruitier_du_museum_ou_iconographie_de_toutes035531).jpg?w=1)
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DECAISNE, Joseph (1807-1882). Le Jardin Fruitier du Muséum ou iconographie de toutes les espéces et variétés d'arbres fruitiers. Paris: Firmin Didot fraeres, [1858-]1862-1875.
9 volumes, small 2o (308 x 226 mm). Half-titles, 508 plates after Alfred Riocreux, including one uncolored engraving and 507 lithographs, 497 with fruit subjects printed in color and finished by hand, backgrounds plain, 4 of these double-page. (First few leaves of volume one with small marginal tears or stains, occasional spotting or browning). Nineteenth-century brown half morocco, speckled boards, spines gilt, top edges gilt (lightly rubbed, a few volumes scuffed).
FIRST AND ONLY EDITION OF THIS FINE POMOLOGY -- one of the greatest of all fruit books. The work was originally issued in fascicles and general title-pages were later issued (as here) for the nine volumes. The life-size plates are by the "most sensitive and skilful French botanical artist of the period... the Paris counterpart of Walter Hood Fitch" (Blunt). Bunyard calls the work "magnificent" and writes that it is impossible to speak too highly of the coloring and goes on to say that "the lithographs are magnificent, and no pomological work has ever approached them for correctness of colouring." The author, a Belgian who had been appointed to the Natural History Museum of Paris in 1850, sets out to describe all the species and varieties of fruit growing in the museum's garden. The work is presented in sections each covering a single species of fruit. The first (and largest) section is on the Pear; this section, spread over the first 6 volumes, includes 357 plates. The remaining sections include, in Vol.VII, Peaches (74 plates); in Vol.VIII: Nectarines (13 plates), Plums (12 plates), and Apricots (one plate); and in Vol.IX: Strawberries (40 plates, 4 of which are double-page) and Currents and Gooseberries (11 plates). The plates illustrate individual varieties with their fruit and portions of the foliage often in color, and each is accompanied by descriptive text. E.A. Bunyard, "Guide to the Literature of Pomology" in Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, 1915, p.428; Great Flower Books, p.89; Nissen BBI 456; Stafleu-Cowan TL2 1338. (9)
9 volumes, small 2o (308 x 226 mm). Half-titles, 508 plates after Alfred Riocreux, including one uncolored engraving and 507 lithographs, 497 with fruit subjects printed in color and finished by hand, backgrounds plain, 4 of these double-page. (First few leaves of volume one with small marginal tears or stains, occasional spotting or browning). Nineteenth-century brown half morocco, speckled boards, spines gilt, top edges gilt (lightly rubbed, a few volumes scuffed).
FIRST AND ONLY EDITION OF THIS FINE POMOLOGY -- one of the greatest of all fruit books. The work was originally issued in fascicles and general title-pages were later issued (as here) for the nine volumes. The life-size plates are by the "most sensitive and skilful French botanical artist of the period... the Paris counterpart of Walter Hood Fitch" (Blunt). Bunyard calls the work "magnificent" and writes that it is impossible to speak too highly of the coloring and goes on to say that "the lithographs are magnificent, and no pomological work has ever approached them for correctness of colouring." The author, a Belgian who had been appointed to the Natural History Museum of Paris in 1850, sets out to describe all the species and varieties of fruit growing in the museum's garden. The work is presented in sections each covering a single species of fruit. The first (and largest) section is on the Pear; this section, spread over the first 6 volumes, includes 357 plates. The remaining sections include, in Vol.VII, Peaches (74 plates); in Vol.VIII: Nectarines (13 plates), Plums (12 plates), and Apricots (one plate); and in Vol.IX: Strawberries (40 plates, 4 of which are double-page) and Currents and Gooseberries (11 plates). The plates illustrate individual varieties with their fruit and portions of the foliage often in color, and each is accompanied by descriptive text. E.A. Bunyard, "Guide to the Literature of Pomology" in Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, 1915, p.428; Great Flower Books, p.89; Nissen BBI 456; Stafleu-Cowan TL2 1338. (9)