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Rare & Collectible Gardening BooksCrops of Collectible Gardening Books

Long ago, before the era of television and the internet, people relied on books to teach and inspire them about the world of gardening. Now, gardening books, manuals and catalogues are becoming more and more collectible - but more for the interest of the topic than for the monetary value of the books. AbeBooks booksellers have hundreds of unique books on gardening; browse through these titles or search for more new, used, rare and out of print books to add to your collection.

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Looking for new gardening books?

  1. Home Landscaping
    Roger Holmes
  2. The Vegetable Gardener's Bible
    Edward C. Smith
  3. The Botany of Desire
    Michael Pollan
  4. Square Foot Gardening
    Mel Bartholomew
  5. You Grow Girl
    Gayla Trail

 

 

Some English GardensSome English Gardens
Gertrude Jekyll

Gertrude Jekyll writing about her favourite gardens in one of the great garden masterpieces of the early 20th century. The atmospheric paintings of George Elgood with the crisp narrative of Gertrude Jekyll. First published in 1906.

From: £80.00 - £500.00

 

Landscape Gardening in JapanLandscape Gardening in Japan
Josiah Conder

Treatise on authentic Japanese garden design & construction. Covering in detail, the history, garden stones, lanterns, pagodas, water basins, garden enclosures, wells, bridges, arbours, ornamental water, garden vegetation & composition.

From: £12.50 - £1,373.14

 

A History of Garden ArtA History of Garden Art
Marie Luise Gothein

Contents include chapters on gardens in: ancient Egypt; western Asia in ancient times; ancient Greece; the Roman Empire; Byzantine gardens and the countries of Islam; the Middle Ages in the West; Italy in the time of the Renaissance and the Baroque style; Spain & Portugal -- France -- England -- Germany & the Netherlands in the time of the Renaissance; the time of Louis XIV; the French garden in European countries; China and Japan; the English landscape garden; tendencies of garden art in the 19th century; modern English gardening; and landscape architecture in North America.

From: £53.63 - £494.44

 

Hints on Ornamental GardeningHints on Ornamental Gardening: Consisting of A Series of Designs for Garden Buildings, Useful and Decorative Gates, Fences, Railings
John Buonarotti Papworth

This is the rarest of Papworth's works following on the success of "Rural Residences". Within the context of Regency landscape architecture, Papworth proposes a variety of rural improvements which led to the "Picturesque" style of garden design, for which the English became famous.

From: £871.49 - £2,400.00

 

English GardensEnglish Gardens
H. Avray Tipping

Lavishly illustrated survey of the English Country House Garden, focusing on fifty-two important and representative examples. Scarce and important sourcebook for Garden History.

From: £100.73 - £1,408.43

 

Familiar Wild FlowersFamiliar Wild Flowers
F. Edward Hulme

This beautifully illustrated volume gives a wealth of information on familiar wild flowers, which will enhance the readers enjoyment of them. Forty plants are described in each volume, with a summary of each at the start, followed by a full description with a full-page color illustration.

£5.00 - £280.00

Curtis Botanical MagazineCurtis Botanical Magazine
Recommended by BeechmastBooks, Hants, UK

A complete set of Curtis' influential magazine from its inception in 1787 to 1840. The grade is very good throughout, with occasional light discoloration which in no way affects the bright, clear page impressions. All 3794 plates are present and correct, none of them having been cut from the magazine. This sale presents a rare opportunity for an individual or institutional collector to obtain a complete set of the early issues of this very desirable title.

BeechmastBooks Copy: £34,750.00
From: £5.00 - £52,290.96

 

Prints and Plants of Old GardensPrints and Plants of Old Gardens
Kate Doggett Boggs

An impressive and attractive work with illustrations from old sources, English prints and gardening books. There is a section on colonial gardens as well as on flowers, plants and pot herbs, although the largest section is of plates of old gardens. There are also lists of plants for different conditions, check list of English plant names, list of pot herbs and descriptions. Useful in creating and appreciating old-style gardens.

From: £8.86 - £83.08

 

The Art of Beautifying Suburban Home Grounds of Small ExtentThe Art of Beautifying Suburban Home Grounds of Small Extent
Frank J. Scott

One of the key books in landscape gardening history. Published between important works by Downing and Eliot, it documents the evolution of design in American gardening. Over 600 pages, accompanied by many lithographic plates illustrating completely landscaped suburban residences. In addition to design there is an extensive part of the text given over to the recommendation of plants, trees, and shrubs for ornament.

From: £33.23 - £296.87

 

The Illustrated Dictionary of GardeningThe Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening
George Nicholson

Eight Divisions in all. First issued in monthly parts 1884-1887; then enclosed in these charming bindings. The editor, Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, was assisted in his task by colleagues in some specialized subjects, but the glory of this achievement is his alone. A treasure -house for the botanically minded gardener and a beautiful book in its own right.

From: £5.00 - £466.63

 

The Art & Practice of Landscape GardeningThe Art and Practice of Landscape Gardening.
Henry Ernest Milner

Milners father, Edward Milner (1819-94) from Chatsworth, was a close colleague of Paxton in all his later work. Milner succeeded his father as Principal of the "Crystal Palace School of the Art of Landscape Gardening and the Improvement of Estates" at Sydenham where he carried out his inherited specialties of work on fountains, terraces, hothouses and planting, all of which are described here in relation to country houses, public parks and cemeteries.

From: £295.00 - £855.72

 

Observations on Modern Gardening
Thomas Whately

Written in 1770, this book is an important work on landscape gardening. Allibone states, "the taste for English gardening makes great progress here..." Whately was "the earliest writer I believe on the subject, landscape gardening. From his work which went through several editions, subsequent writers have borrowed largely, and generally with little acknowledgment...".

From: £498.99 - £800.00