Lot 8: MOORE, Thomas (1821-1887). The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland ... Edited by John Lindley ... nature-printed by Henry Bradbury . London: Bradbury & Evans, 1855[-1856]. 2° (548 x 358mm). Half-title. 51 nature-printed plates, all printed in

MOORE, Thomas (1821-1887). The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland ... Edited by John Lindley ... nature-printed by Henry Bradbury. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1855[-1856]. 2° (548 x 358mm). Half-title. 51 nature-printed plates, all printed in colours, by Bradbury & Evans under the direction of Henry Bradbury. (Variable light spotting throughout, a couple of plates shaved just into image, last two plates with small marginal stain.) Contemporary green half morocco gilt, gilt edges (extremities rubbed, corners bumped, patch of cloth to upper cover defective, front hinge split). Provenance: R.W. Head (armorial bookplate).

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, OF THE GREAT NATURE-PRINTING FOLIO, with plates 3 and 6 in first state. Henry Bradbury (1831-1860), eldest son of William Bradbury of Bradbury & Evans, published the present work in 17 monthly parts between June 1855 and September 1856. With text by Thomas Moore (curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden and co-editor of Gardener's Chronicle) and edited by John Lindley (1799-1865), the work was one of the first of the genre printed in Britain. Fischer 89; Nissen BBI 1400; Stafleu & Cowan 6275.