HIRSCHFELD, Christian C. L. (1742-1792). Theorie der Gartenkunst. Leipzig: Reich & the heirs of M.G.Weidmann, 1779-1785.
5 volumes, 4° (240 x 196mm). Engraved title vignettes, 208 engraved plates, one folding, 30 full-page illustrations. (Without half-titles, occasional light spotting.) Near-contemporary half marbled sheep, lettering-pieces on spines (lower covers of vols.III and V lightly wormed, extremities slightly rubbed).
A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION of the book which introduced English garden design to northern Europe. Hirschfeld established a school of arboriculture at Duesternbrok in 1785 under the patronage of King Christian VI of Denmark, and, drawing on English authors including Walpole, Whately and Mason, he became the chief German proponent of landscape gardening in the English style. In this, his most important work, he details a complete theory of garden design. A French translation was published almost simultaneuosly (see following lot). Berlin Kat. 3353. (5)