[Hand-Colored] Manuel de l'amateur de melons ou l'art de reconnaître et d'acheter de bon melons ; précédé d'une histoire de ce fruit et une nomenclature de ses diverses espèces et variétés

Paris: Auguste Udron, rue du Battoir, no. 20, 1827. Quarter-Calf. Near Fine+. Rare First Edition of Martin's charming melon lover's manual. 12mo (129 x 75mm): [4],iv,156pp, with delicately four hand-colored lithographs depicting nine varieties of melon (in section and whole) and a Piquet à Thermomètre de Regnier. Contemporary black quarter-calf lettered, ruled, and decorated with Empire motifs in gilt over deep blue textured paper-covered boards, marbled end-papers, brown silk page marker. Tide line at foot of first three leaves (barely perceptible to following seventeen), occasional light scattered spotting (plates unaffected), but a well-preserved example of this rare horticultural title. Vicaire 568. Carteret, III, p. 401 ("charmant petit livre"). Cagle 310. Maggs no. 645 (Food and Drink) 414. Seventeen chapters cover a wide range of topics on melons, including their cultivation on trellises and in rows, care, varieties, and gastonomic appeal, ending with a ten-page bibliography. Martin followed this work with monographs on coffee, oysters, and truffles. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).