An Oak Spring Sylva

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A Selection of the Rare Books on Trees in the Oak Spring Garden Library

Sandra Raphael

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An Oak Spring Sylva is the first of a series of discursive catalogues describing selections of the rare books and other material in the Oak Spring Garden Library, a collection formed by Mrs. Paul Mellon. Each volume in the Oak Spring series will be a lovely and useful compendium for book collectors, librarians, and garden historians. This volume, which deals with books and manuscripts on trees, describes nearly fifty books, manuscripts, or drawings, from a tiny 1555 book on oaks to early nineteenth-century advice manuals on large-scale tree planting.

"An Oak Spring Sylva has obvious appeal for lovers of plants, botanical prints, gardening, etc., but also for admirers of curious, and quite beautiful, books—qualities that apply to the Sylva as well as the works within."—Print Collector's Newsletter

"This is the book garden bibliophiles have been waiting for. Sandra Raphael guides us on a unique tour of forty-six books and prints devoted to trees. . . . The book's design, paper, printing, and binding attest to the care and devotion expended on this collection. . . . Details about many of the books include valuable observations on the illustrations. . . . Anyone interested in trees, gardens, or the history of books will find this volume exciting. It serves as a model for collecting books about trees, touches us with the importance of history, and whets our appetite for the other volumes—on fruit, flowers, garden design, and other horticultural topics—still to come in this series."—Keith Crotz, American Horticulturist

"The typography is not only handsome but adds to the book's utility. . . . Also, the many illustrations . . . give the reader a very full sense of the items being described. An Oak Spring Sylva should prove both a pleasurable and a valuable read to bibliophiles, horticulturists, and other devotees of natural history, and it augurs well for the prospective volumes in the Oak Spring series."—Cite AB

"Apart from private presses, one seldom encounters an impeccably produced book today. An Oak Spring Sylva is an outstanding exception: its paper, typography, illustrations, endpapers, casing and dust-wrapper reflect expert consideration and unerring taste; generous margins, an elegant title-page, and a harmonious balance of the tonal qualities of plates and text make it a joy to handle and read."—Ray Desmond, Garden History

"Richly illustrated by both color and black & white selections from seldom seen volumes. . . . A delightful must for the botanical bibliophile."—Foster's Botanical & Herb Reviews

"Sylva describes forty-six books on trees and shrubs. . . . If [the] later volumes maintain the standards set by Sylva, we are in for a treat."—Nigel Holman, Hortus

"[A] detailed, nicely illustrated account of 46 works."—Rudolf Schmid, Taxon: Journal of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy

"The writing is scholarly, readable and concise, but the glory of the book lies in the high quality reproductions of the works, which should make it a delight to gardeners, historians, and art-lovers alike."—Antique Collector

"Oak Spring is the name given to Mrs. Paul Mellon's garden library, one of America's premier private horticultural collections. An Oak Spring Sylva is the title of a catalog of selections of nearly fifty rare books, manuscripts, and drawings on the subject of trees and dendrology selected from this library of over 1,555 titles alone on oak trees. The word `catalog' does not exactly do justice to the sumptuous contents of this book, for within its covers lies a rich lode of history, bibliography, and art. . . . This book will appeal to the horticulturist and bibliophile alike. The plates alone are worth the price of the book."—Robin Wilkerson, Journal of the New England Garden History Society

"Sandra Raphael follows the descriptive material with scholarly, informative essays, varying from a paragraph to several pages in length, on each entry's contents and background. Her masterly contributions expand what could have been only a catalogue of an individual collection into a fascinating history of the importance of trees over 300 years, beginning with du Choul's treatise on oaks, published in 1555. There are many illustrations, both in colour and black and white. Much thought and taste has gone into the choosing and all are impeccably reproduced. The volume is a highly successful collaboration between a discriminating collector who is eager to share her delight in books and gardens and an erudite and graceful writer, supported by a fine book designer who has enhanced the material by its handsome presentation."—R. Schallert, Archives of Natural History

ISBN: 9780300046526
Publication Date: September 10, 1990

182 pages, x

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