Silva: or a Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesty s Dominions: As it was delivered in the Royal Society on the 15th Day of October, 1662, Upon Occasion of certain Quaeries propounded to that illustrious Assembly, by the Honourable the Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy. Together with An Historical Account of the Sacredness and Use of Standing Groves. (First Hunter edition)

York, England: J. Dodsley, 1776.. 4to. 23 x 29.5 cm. [lvi]-649-[10] pp. (some foxing, sl. age-toned, ms. text on first flyleaves).Contemp. half-calf, mod. marbl. cardb. covers, spine on 5 raised bands, gilt title label (rebound, sm. def. at head, corners sl. worn). Good clean copy.Sixth edition of Evelyn's most important horticultural work and the first official book publication of the Royal Society. In 1652 the diarist and translator John Evelyn (1620-1706) began to create the garden at Sayes Court, a project that signaled the beginning of his serious interest in botany and garden history. He developed an extensive correspondence with gardeners throughout Britain and devoted much of his intellectual energy to horticulture, particularly that of trees. The outcome was this pioneering work, written in part as a protest against the destruction of England's forests being carried out by her glass factories and iron furnaces. The work was influential in establishing a much-needed programme of reforestation that had a lasting effect on the British economy. This 1776 edition is a reprint of the fourth edition (1706) with engr. front. portrait of the author (by F. Bartolozzi), 40 copper-engraved plates by John Miller (1 double-page plate included), letterpress folding table, life of the author, subscribers' list and index. This copy also includes a (19th-c.) ms. introduction to both the book an its author. Prov. "Allison A Kisby, Cottingham" (bookpl.).Ref. Keynes 47. - Nissen (BBI) 615. - ESTC T147758. - Bibliotheca Bibliographici 2057.