Page 2
The Book of Gracious Promises, by J.B. Bunyard, rests on that fine line between children's and adult books. Wood describes it as "a coloring book for grown-ups." It contains 11 plates with quotes from scriptures and floral borders that are meant to be colored by the owner. Perhaps this is why our grade schools spend so much time teaching kids to color. This copy has four of the plates "expertly" colored, though the artist is unknown. That leaves seven left for whoever purchases the book. Item 24. $350.
Twenty lessons of British mosses...by William Gardiner is an example of natural illustration. "Natural illustration" is when the item itself is used as the illustration, rather than an image of it. Naturally, you aren't going to use natural illustration to show the Taj Mahal or Abraham Lincoln, but you could use it for something like moss. Not easily, mind you, but it can be done. This is what Gardiner used in this 1852 fourth edition (together with the 1849 second series) of his book on British mosses. Between these there are 50 samples of moss mounted to the pages. Wood tells us there was a vogue at the time for books with specimens of flower and other plants attached, but that they were difficult to make and not many survived intact. These copies are in unusually good shape. Item 54. $550.
Item 144 is another example of using vegetation for literary purposes. Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce with the Premiums Offered in the Year 1788 tells of a contest held to find alternate resources for making paper. The prize went to one Thomas Greaves who submitted paper made from the bark of withins. Wood explains that "withins" was some sort of woody plant also used for basketmaking, but its obscurity makes one wonder whether this was a practical source of material for papermaking. $500.
Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - February - 2005 Issue
History of the Book from Charles Wood Antiquarian Booksellers
One of James Harding's tree drawings.
