a rare complete set

First editions, a rare complete set of both series of this monumental work, being an important record of the flowers cultivated in England during the early 19th century. Illustrated with more than seven thousand hand-coloured plates, it also includes the rare monograph on the Amaryllideae by Adrian Hardy Haworth that was distributed as an appendix to the second series, volume I.

Robert Sweet (1783-1835) began his career as a gardener and became a well-known horticulturist and member of the Linnean Society. Between 1826 and 1831 he 'occupied himself almost wholly in the production of botanical works, while still cultivating a limited number of plants in his garden at parson's Green, Fulham... His works included Hortus suburbanus Londinensis (1818); Geraniaceae (5 vols., 1820–30); Sweet's hortus Britannicus (1826); Flora Australasica (1827–8); and an ornithological work, The British Warblers (1823). The botanical genus Sweetia was named in his honour by Candolle in 1825.' (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography).

First editions; 7 volumes, 8vo (24.5 x 15.5 cm); 712 hand-coloured engraved plates, some of which are folding, occasional small spots and light offsetting, but overall contents clean; 19th-century green half morocco, marbled sides, spines gilt in compartments with floral tools, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, bindings a little rubbed with some wear at the extremities, a very good set.

Nissen 1923; Great Flower Books pg. 77; Dunthorne 293.