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Edited by Sir William Hooker. 3 parts in 1. 14; [4], 7 pp. text + 30 hand-colored lithographed plates by Fitch after drawings by the author. Descriptive letterpress accompanying each plate. (folio) 48x34.5 cm. (19x13½"), period full red morocco tooled in gilt, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. First Edition.

An exceptional copy of this magnificent botanical work, with thirty superbly hand-colored lithographed plates, of great interest for their accuracy of the drawing of the blossoms and parts and for their descriptions of provenance. Originally planned for ten plates only, the work was expanded following the positive reception by subscribers, and by John Hookers continuation of his explorations in the Himalayas. Great Flower Books states it to be "An important work both for the botanist and horticulturalist since it contains descriptions and plates of the best garden Rhododendron species which can be grown in this country and an account of their discovery." Walter Hood Fitch, who executed the lithographs from the author's field sketches, was one of the most prolific and one of the best botanical artists of the Victorian period. This copy lacks the subscriber's leaf. Purchased by the present owner from John Howell-Books in San Francisco.