STRUTT, JACOB GEORGE 

SYLVA BRITANNICA; OR, PORTRAITS OF FOREST TREES, DISTINGUISHED FOR THEIR ANTIQUITY, MAGNITUDE, OR BEAUTY. DRAWN FROM NATURE. LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR BY LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN AND GREEN, [N.D., BUT 1830]

8vo (11 x 7 1/2𓆏 in.; 279 x 191 mm). Additional title on india paper mounted withꩲ etched vignette, 49 etched plates by Strutt, all on India paper mounted. Original oatmeal-colored cloth: rebacked. 

An attractive copy of the first octavo edition of this charming work: the deluxe issue with the plates all printed on india paper

Strutt here provides a portrait in words🍬 and pictures of 50 of the greatest trees or stands of trees in England and Scotland: a snapshot of the trees as they stood in 1830. This work was first published by Strutt in 1826 in a folio format, and was available by subsꦅcription at 9 guineas for the normal issue or for the issue with the plates on india paper 15 guineas. For the present work, the folio plates were reduced, and the folio text was modified to allow for the reordering of the trees into more coherent groupings. As with the folio edition, this work was offered in two forms: at £1 11s. 6d. for the normal issue or 3 guineas for the deluxe issue with the plates on india paper (as here).

The early owඣner of this copy, William Russell Grace, the co-founder of W.R Grace and Co., was an American success story who rose from relative poverty to be one of the richest men in the country. He was also a noted philanthropist and served two terms as Mayor of New York.

REFERENCE:

Lowndes III:2534; Nissen, BBI 1907

PROVENANCE:

Edward Kynaston Bridger (armorial bookplate) — William Russell Grace (armorial bookpla♒te)