Alexandre Bivort & L.S.J. de Bavay, and others

Alexandre Bivort & L.S.J. de Bavay, and others
Annales de pomologie Belge et Étrangère. 1853-60
BIVORT, Alexandre, Lauren Séraph Joseph de BAVAY and others. Annales de pomologie Belge et Étrangère. Brussels: F. Parent, 1853-1860.

First edition, a tall set from the library of Edouard Pynaert, professor of horticulture at Ghent. Its magnificent coloured lithographs depict apples, pears, cherries, peaches, plums, strawberries, raspberries, medlars, and other fruit. ‘The descriptions of many of the fruits are taken from an earlier work [Bivort, Album de pomologie], but the greater number are original... This work had a great success and remains the classical work of reference, with Bivort's Album for varieties of Belgian fruit’ (Bunyard). The work is unrecorded in numerous major botanical reference works (Pritzel, Nissen, Plesch), and is rarely found complete; ABPC records only 2 complete copies sold at auction in over 45 years. BM (NH) I, 128; Bunyard, p.441; cf. Oak Spring Pomona 53.

8 volumes in 4, (388 x 290mm). Half-titles, index in vol. VIII, 383 (of 384) lithographic plates, of which 274 are coloured by hand, some heightened with gum arabic, some possibly partially printed in colour (lacking ‘Vitus Troy’ in vol. VIII, very little spotting in a handful of plates or text leaves, small repair at two fore-edges, one short neat marginal tear, text block of vol. 1 just splitting). Contemporary quarter red morocco over marbled paper boards, spines lettered in gilt, blind ornament in other compartments (minor repairs at spine and extremities). Provenance: Edouard Pynaert, Ghent (1835-1900; stamp on title of vol. VI).