About this Item
Second Edition. Hardcover. Lushly and vividly color illustrated in a frontispiece, ornamental title page, and two plates containing a total of 24 varieties of ivy, with an abundance of wood engraved vignettes in black and white between, this celebration of all things ivy is the work of Shirley Hibberd (1825 1890). Hibberd was a popular gardening writer of the Victorian era and a very early proponent of city gardening, home bee-keeping, vegetarianism, rainwater collection, and environmental conservation as well as an avid ivy enthusiast (boasting upwards of 200 varieties of the vine under his care) for 15 years before producing this monograph, the first published on the subject. Included in this admittedly worn but still green and lively 1893 printing is a skeletonized specimen of a large ivy leaf and two smaller Digitata ivy specimens pressed between its pages by a fellow ivy-appreciator of the time. Even as Hibberd's skillful chapters on the uses, cutlivation, species, and varieties of the plant serve as a series of solid stepping stones for the ivy initiate to ascend, it seems ivy-strewn verse from revered poets is always creeping in throughout, entertwined with ivy lore, spanning religious rites in ancient Egypt to ceremonies in ancient Rome to Christmas carols with roots in the medieval era and beyond. Hibberd is not averse to cross-propagation of the beautiful and practical however, as he writes about the allure of an ivy-strewn tower, castle, or cottage: "Those uses of the plant, however, which come within the range of the romantic are not to be slighted. To the Ivy we are without doubt indebted for the preservation of many a stately pile that would erst have become dust without it. Thus it may be regarded as the vegetable keeper of historical records, for although it may thrust rude hands amongst them, as when it sends its roots deep into the wall of a tower or keep, it affords a protecting shield against wind, and rain, and snow; its matted felt of stems and its imbricated leaves constituting a truly waterproof protection, adding to the warmth and ensuring the perfect dryness of the protected structure." 8 1/2" X 6 1/2". [vi], 115pp. Bound in deep green cloth over bevelled boards, with ivy stamped in black, green, red, and yellow growing through the edges of the gilt title to upper board, with both ivy and title in gilt to spine. Rather heavy wear to binding, with bumping to edges and extremities, small tears to head and tail of spine, small open tear near tail of spine, several small bubbles to cloth, and some evidence of dampstaining, as if poorly protected on a rainy ramble ivy-hunting through the English countryside. Inner hinges cracking, yet still holding strong by binding strings; binding remains quite firm and sound. Some bubbles to pastedowns. Bookseller's ticket of Henry March Gilbert of Ye Old Boke Shoppe Southampton to front pastedown. Light foxing to preliminaries and occasional smudge to pages throughout, else unmarked. Illustrated in a color frontispiece, color ornamental title page, two further color plates, abundant wood engraved vignettes, and an ivy border to every page. Seller Inventory # 16568
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