The Heathery; or a Monograph of The Genus Erica: containing coloured engravings, with Latin and English descriptions, dissections, etc, of all the known species of that extensive and distinguished tribe of plants

London : Printed by Richard Tayor for the Author, 1804 A good part set of the 1st edition of this rare and comprehensive work. This set consists of 252 hand coloured plates with their descriptions bound in 3 volumes, but, we have not been able to confirm that they are from Volumes I - V with 2 extra plates. According to research [Cleevely, Nelson and Oliver, 2003] the work was first published in 6 volumes (with 50 plates and descriptions per volume) the first 4 being published in the years 1805-1807, but the remaining 2 published later: V not before 1816 and VI in late 1828. Complete sets are the exception! This set is in contemporary half leather bindings with marbled boards. The spines have gilt lining and title and volume labels. Contents: Vol I: hand coloured title page; plain title page to vol I dated 1804; dissertation 2pp; mode of culture 2pp; introduction 2pp; 82 plates with accompanying text. Vol II: title page Vol II 1804; Dissertation continued; 84 plates with accompanying text plus text for E. discolor. Vol III: title page Vol III dated 1806; dissertation concluded 1p; plate for E.discolor and 85 further plates with text. The work is therefore lacking 48 plates and descriptions, 3 title pages and the index. The bindings are clean with wear to the leather, particularly at the top and bottom of the spines and to the spine joints. Each volume has 'Stouthall' hand written on the front pastedown, and 2 volumes have the bookplate of R Wilbraham Falconer. Contents are generally very clean with the occasional spot or mark. The plates are beautifully coloured. Each plate is hand numbered but sadly the numbering starts anew in each volume so does not help with collation. There is the odd outbreak of spotting eg title page to Vol II and a few text pages have browning eg those opposite plates 56. 62, 68 and 73 in the 3rd volume. Please enquire if you would like us to check for particular specimens, or you would like more images.