Minutes in Agriculture and Planting Hardcover - 1804

Boston: J. Hellaby, 1804. [v], vi-viii, [1], 2-92pp. Modern quarter calf and marbled paper over boards, raised bands, spine in six panels, title label to second panel, remaining panels with central lozenge gilt device, gilt double rules either side of cords, date to foot, all edges marbled. Spine very slightly faded, bottom corners slightly bumped, otherwise externally very good. Internally some light browning, foxing, and damp staining to text, with some minor surface abrasion to engraved plate numbers, the top part of the fore edge margin has been reinforced throughout, occasionally catching text or image, but with no loss. With ten real grass specimens on three leaves, two hand coloured plates and seven folding engraved plates by B.[artholomew] Howlett (1767-1827) (for Howlett see Alexander, 'A Biographical Dictionary of British and Irish Engravers, 1714-1820', pages 483-484, noting an 1810 edition of this work with nine plates). William Amos was a "steward to John Cartwright of Brothertoft ... he said he was induced to write the book because farmers had asked him about laying down to grass and machines were then only known in the locality where they were used. The machines he described were a sward dresser, thistle cutter, compound roller, tree transplanter, a scuffler, a couch drag and rake" (Fussell III: 11-12). Goldsmith's 18817; Lowndes 37; Wilson, 'Food and Farming', page 3; Perkins 42; Rothamsted, page 9. First Edition. Quarter Calf and Boards. Good. Illus. by Howlett, B. [Engraver]. 4to.