Undated but circa 1890. Complete in eight volumes (with the final volume including supplement at rear). Each volume uniformly bound in green buckram cloth with extensive decorations and flamboyant gilt lettering on upper panels, gilt-stamped titles on spine. Bevelled edges. Waxed endpapers. All edges gilt. Each volume with a tissue -guarded colour botanical frontispiece and further colour botanical plates interleafed in text, numerous black and white drawings. 4tos. Cloth covers have a little rubbing on extremities, generally rounded or scuffed at spine ends and corners; top text block edge gilding tends to be dulled. Internally there's a little toning, with pages appearing just less than bright and fresh but clean and clear. Front free endpaper, frontispiece and title page in volume eight detached; front hinge of volume six cracked, with a previous owner's name neatly inked on the front paste down; front endpapers in volume one slightly soiled; front hinge of volume two cracked; front hinge volume three cracked and open, with a previous owner's name neatly inked on front paste down; volume four rear hinge cracked and a minor annotation on front the paste down.
A handsome set of this important 19th century work on horticulture and gardening. George Nicholson (1847-1908) was a botanist and horticulturist, one of 60 recipients of the Victoria Medal of Honour for his contribution to horticulture. His masterwork, The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening, was first produced in monthly parts during the 1880s and then published as an eight volume set; a supplement in two volumes was published later.
A large and heavy set which will likely incur an additional charge for overseas delivery.
