Handbook of the British Flora; A Description of the Flowering Plants and Ferns Indigenous to, or Naturalized in, the British Isles

London: Lovell Reeve & Co., 1865. First edition. Leather. Good. 8.5" by 6". W. Fitch. A complete first edition set of this illustrated handbook to the flora of the British Isles for use of beginners and amateurs. Complete in two volumes. First edition. A comprehensive handbook to British flora, with chapters on the definitions and descriptions of botanical science, classification, vegetable anatomy, preservation of plants, with a vast index. Volume one is illustrated with six hundred and three figures, some of which are in colour. Volume two is illustrated with six hundred and ninety-two figures. Written by George Bentham, an English botanist and a noted systemic botanist of the nineteenth century. Illustrated by Walter Hood Fitch, a Scottish botanical illustrator who produced over ten thousand drawings for various publications. Bound in quarter brown calf with patterned paper covered boards. Externally, worn with rubbing resulting in light loss to the extremities. Fading to the spine and light marks to the boards. Front hinge starting but firm to volume one. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are very bright with very light scattered spotting and light age toning to the extremities. Good