George Brookshaw | Pomona Britannica, London, 1812, first edition, modern red half morocco

George Brookshaw

Pomona Britannica; or, a Collection of the Most Esteemed Fruits at Present Cultivated in this Country. London: Printed for the Author by T. Bensley, 1812

FIRST EDITION, folio (603 x 473mm.), 90 aquatint and stipple engraved plates printed in colours and finished by hand, modern red half morocco, leaves uncut, some spotting, a few leaves repaired at versos

THE FINEST ENGLISH WORK ON FRUIT, published as a rival to Thornton's Temple of Flora.

Some 256 varieties of fruit are depicted, many against a striking dark brown background. The majority of the specimens were taken from the royal gardens at Hampton Court, but others mentioned in the text come from the gardens of the Princess of Wales at Blackheath, Dr. Lettsom at Camberwell, and Benjamin Goldsmid at Roehampton.

LITERATURE:

Dunthorne 50; Great Flower Books 81; Nissen BBI 244; An Oak Spring Pomona 40a; Prideaux 295