A beautiful copy of the classic work on British fruit, reflecting a craze for cultivation made possible through innovations in garden technology. The title page attests to the fact that many of these specimens depicted by Brookshaw had been selected from the Royal Gardens at Hampton Court, where the introduction of forcing houses and stoves allowed for a wider variety of fruit to be grown both in and out of season.
George Brookshaw (c.1751-1823) was primarily a cabinet-maker, and he sold fine painted furniture from his shops in London. After the dissolution of his marriage however he was forced into bankruptcy, and gave up his previously successful trade. He applied his decorative sensibilities instead to botanical artwork, which he taught, and also produced a manual on, published anonymously in 1797 under the title A New Treatise of Flower Painting.
The present work, Pomona Britannica, was first issued in parts from 1804, before the first single volume edition of 1812. In spite of his beautiful illustrations and botanically significant treatise on British fruits, the work was largely snubbed by the likes of Sir Joseph Banks and other founding members of the recently established Horticultural Society. The first edition was in a larger folio format with dark backgrounds behind many of the fruits. From a bibliographical perspective therefore, this second edition represents a substantively different work. Reimagined in quarto size, the content was revised, and the plates re-engraved.
From the Preface: “One of the most popular sciences of the present day is Botany; and one of the most important parts of this science is Horticulture: that peculiar study of Botany which enables us not merely to understand its general principles, and call forth and diversify its general beauties, but to apply them practically to a production of the most useful or luscious viands: particularly to a growth of the most exquisite and expensive fruits, often forming a rich ornament to our gardens, and always gratifying dessert to our tables.”
The first volume covers: the strawberry, raspberry, currant, gooseberry, cherry, plum, apricot, peach. The second adds: the nectarine, grape, melon, fig, nut, pear, and apple. The appendix to the second volume gives the locations from which the specimens were sourced, mostly in and around London.
The highly decorative plates are prized individually, and as such, volumes are often broken. It is increasingly scarce to find complete sets, especially in a handsome original binding.
Provenance: with the bookplates of Wakefield Lodge and of Robert Lionel Foster (d.1952).
