Robert Sweet | Cistineae. The natural order of cistus, or rock-rose, 1825–1830

Robert Sweet.

Cistineae. The natural order of cistus, or rock-rose. London: James Ridgway, 1825–1830

FIRST EDITION, 28 original parts, 8vo (263 x 170mm.), 112 hand-coloured engraved plates by J. Hart, M. Hart, W. Hart and Mrs Brown, publisher's advertisements in parts 1, 2, 12, 13, 23, and 25, Sweet's change-of-address slip in part 20, publisher's tan paper wrappers, housed in a modern green half morocco box.

RARE IN THE ORIGINAL PARTS. A highly decorative practical guide to the cultivation of the rock-rose or cistus: one of the most beautiful family of flowering plants.

Originally published in 28 parts, at three shillings per part, between July 1825 and January 1830, each plate shows a single variety of cistus or rock-rose and is accompanied by text giving a taxonomic description and instructions for the plant's cultivation. In the years following completion, the work was reissued as a single volume, however sets of the first edition in the original parts, as here, are rare.

LITERATURE:

Nissen BBI 1922; Great Flower Books (1990) p.141; Stafleu TL2 13.546