Beschreibung:

Some refer to these as Nurserymen's books, but this one folds into thirds and slips into a 7.25 x 10 in. leather case - clearly for travel. The 5.25 x 8.5 in. plates are glued back to back with a ribbon between them in groups of 3. The leather front has gilt Fruit & Ornamental Foliage. The marbled paper cardboard dividers are joined by fabric. The book contains 126 wonderful color plates of fruit, flowers and trees, most printed by J.W. Thompson & Co. (80+ plates). A few are by C.M. Search & Co. (17 and at least 2 more); a couple by Mensing & Stecher (2); some are unknown (23) because the printer information was trimmed off or in one case the page has torn across the bottom, but probably represent one of these three companies, all based in Rochester, NY, the center of fruit/flower color plate printing. Based on the working times of these companies, the book probably dates between 1876 (when Thompson started) and 1886 (when Mensing died and the company became Stecher Litho. Co.). As demand changed or species were replaced, often the salesman would paste a new image over the old one. This salesman did just that (and fortunately only glued across the top of the plate, leaving the underlying plate nearly intact). Many of the plates have prices penciled at top (many were 25 or 50 cents, or 3 for $1). Species that were apparently no longer available - many with others pasted on top - have "W" on them (for withdrawn?). The illustrated species [including the ones covered by newer selections]: Apples – Duchess of Oldenburgh, Haas [covers Alexander (Emperor)], Dominie or Wells of Ohio [covers Huzzar], Red Bietigheiner [covers Nickajack and Emperor Russian], Salome [covers Stark and Czar of Russia], Walbridge [covers Late Russian], Red Astrachan, Yellow Transparent [covers Rawle’s Janet], Fameuse or Snow [covers Ben Davis], Grimes Golden [covers Laver], Baldwin [covers Mann], Walker’s Beauty [covers Wealthy], Sylvan Sweet, Whitney’s Seedling Siberian Crab, Dartmouth Crab, Hyslop Crab [covers Van Wyck Sweet Crab], Martha Crab [covers Large Red Siberian], Tetofsky Peaches – Hopkinsville Seedling, Arkansas Traveler, Missouri Mammoth, Sallie Worrell, Steadley [covers Governor Garland], Salway [covers Mammoth White Clingstone] Cherries – Large Montmorency, Empress Eugenie, Moore’s Early May, Early Richmond [covers Lieb], Toronto, Louis Philippe Pears – Bartlett, Kieffer’s Hybrid, Flemish Beauty, Clapp’s Favorite [covers Frederick Clapp], Duchess D’Angouleme [covers Souvenir du Congress], Claywood’s Beauty Plums – Weaver, Mooney, Louisa, Blackman [covers German Prune], Lombard [covers Orange Quince] Quince – Champion Strawberries – Sharpless Seedling, Crescent Seedling, James Vick, New Strawberry-Big Bob Gooseberry – Smith’s Improved, Downing’s Seedling Other Berries – Gregg Raspberry, Hansell (red raspberry), Snyder Blackberry, The Marlboro (red raspberry), Fay’s Prolific Currant, White Grape Currant Grapes – Niagara [covers Brighton], Lady Washington, Moore’s Early, Pocklington, Moore’s Diamond [covers Vergennes], Empire State [covers Prontiss] [Berry with name removed, covering Rhubarb labeled as “Wine or Pie Plant”] Russian Apricot, Elruge Nectarine Everbearing Mulberry, Russian Mulberry, Lucretia Dowberry Flowers: Clematis Jackmanii, Perpetual Clematis-Henryii, Perpetual Clematis-Gem, Magnolia Acuminata, Tartarian or Upright Honeysuckle, Passion Flower [covers Rhododendron], Spirea Aurea, Spirea Reevesii, Althea-Variegated Leaved, Hydranea Paniouls Grandiflora, Variegated-leaved Weigela, Calycanthus or Sweet Scented Shrub Roses – Greville or Seven Sisters, Queen of the Prairies, General Jacquemynot, La France, American Beauty [covers Perpetual White Moss], The “Bride” [covers Crested Moss] Trees, etc. Kilmarnock Weeping Willow, Weeping Mountain Ash, Cut Leaved Weeping Birch, American Sweet Chestnut, Tulip Tree (2) [first covers Oak-Leaved Mountain Ash, second covers White Leaved Weeping Linden, Balsam Fir, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Irish