Description

[002514] Swayne, G.[eorge]. Gramina Pascua: Or, a Collection of Specimens of the Common Pasture Grasses, Arranged in the Order of Their Flowering, and Accompanied with Their Linnaean and English Names, as Likewise with Familiar Descriptions and Remarks. Bristol: Printed for the Author By S. Bonner and Sold By W. Richardson, 1790. First Edition. Elephant Folio. Half Calf and Boards. Very Good. [22], six pages of specimens. Slightly later half calf and paste paper over boards, raised flat bands, spine in eight panels, author lettered direct to fourth panel, with title split between third and second panels (lettered up the spine), place and date in gilt to foot, t.e.g.

Very slightly rubbed to extremities and foot of spine, small split to head of front joint, internally some light off setting from samples on to text, but generally bright and clean. Previous owners (Munden) armorial book plate to front pastedown. The loose errata sheet found in some copies is here trimmed and pasted to the reverse of the final text leaf.

Henrey notes that “in 1796 it was highly praised by William Withering as ‘a work extremely well calculated to spread a useful knowledge of the grasses amongst the farmers, as well as to instruct the country gentleman in the best means of ameliorating our pasture lands'” (Henrey, page 302).

Henrey 1399; Pritzel 9072