The Ivy, A Monograph; Comprising the History, Uses, Characteristics, and Affinities of the Plant

London: Groombridge & Sons, 1872. First edition of this richly illustrated introduction to the ivy by James Shirley Hibberd (1825-1890), one of the most popular gardening writers of the Victorian era. Committed to the democratization of gardening, Hibberd wrote for amateur gardeners, especially those among the urban working class. He distinguishes varieties of ivy according to their observable characteristics, rather than using commemorative botanical names that refer to people or places, and he considers the ivy’s folklore as well as its cultivation, noting that “Virgil did not hesitate to mingle the ivy with the laurel in preparing a wreath” for his patron Pollio. In addition to The Ivy, Hibberd authored monographs on roses and ferns, and edited several popular gardening magazines, including Amateur Gardening, the oldest British gardening magazine, still published today. In a prefatory note to The Ivy, Hibberd discourages curious visitors to his own experimental garden: “The Author’s garden is not open to public inspection.” See Claus Nissen, Botanische Buchillustration 873. Provenance: Anthony David Estill, collector of Victorian illustrated books and publishers’ bindings; purchased from his estate by Ellen Morris and Edward Levin for their own collection of publishers’ bindings. An exceptionally fine copy. Single volume, measuring 8.25 x 6.25 inches: [8], 115, [1]. Publisher’s deep green cloth with beveled edges, upper board with elaborate borders stamped in black and gilt around inner field with gilt-stamped ivy and lettering; gilt-stamped ivy and lettering to spine; lower board with blind-stamped borders and floral centerpiece; all edges gilt. Chromolithographed frontispiece, extra title page, and two plates; wood-engraved floral borders on each page and sixty-six illustrations in text. Bookplate of Anthony David Estill to upper pastedown. Title page and a few leaves very lightly foxed. Housed in a custom clamshell box with Estill’s label inside lid. (Inventory #: 1004060)