The Specimen Book of Fruits, Flowers and Ornamental Trees, Carefully Drawn & Colored From Nature For the Use of Nurserymen

Rochester, New York: M. Brunswick & Co, Circa 1880s. Brown leather binding, 9.75 x 7", with remnants of metal clasp to cover, color lithographed title page, 116 color plates. A nursery sample book published for the famed Pomona, North Carolina nursery of John Van Lindley. According to the Greensboro History Museum, "The Lindley Nurseries have a long history in Greensboro and Guilford County. Touted as the oldest organized business in the city and the first nursery in North Carolina, it was established around 1850 by Joshua Lindley, having 1000 acres, 350 used in cultivation. It was first in the cultivation of fruit & nut trees, shade, evergreen, and ornamental shrubs."

The book contains the printed bookplate of J. Van Lindley on the front pastedown featuring a note for agents, and is inscribed by Van Lindley on the front endpaper verso. On the rear endpaper is the remnant of a promotional letter by Van Lindley, and laid in are two leaves from an 1880s Van Lindley catalog (noting 35 years in business). Finally, laid in are several copies of a partially printed 1890s "Articles of Agreement" between the nursery and prospective agents, agreeing to "furnish a canvassing outfit, consisting of a Plate Book, Order Books, and other necessary printed blanks."

The book contains plates depicting apples, peaches, pears, apricots, cherries, plums, strawberries, flowers, suburban homes and gardens, and more. Many of the plates have North Carolina specific text, including a plate depicting the "Stonewall Jackson," from Union County, N.C., and three of the plates mentioning the J. Van Lindley Nursery itself. A wonderful artifact of North Carolina horticultural history. Toning, foxing, and staining to plates, damp staining along right hand margin, hint of mildewing along margin of last few pages, binding worn and chipped. Item #13996

Price: $2,500.00