English Forests and Forest Trees, Historical, Legendary, and Descriptive

Description:

First edition. A delightfully illustrated survey of England’s forests and notable trees, combining natural history and topography with historical accounts, literary associations and woodland folklore. Includes accounts of the forests of Windsor, the New Forest, Sherwood, Epping and the Forest of Dean, together with chapters on forest laws, woodland inhabitants, forest flowers and forest management. A chapter on foreign forests, by F.L. Marny, translated from French provides a continental comparison.

Published during a period of extensive enclosure and disafforestation, the work is also of interest as a contemporary expression of concern for the survival of England’s historic woodlands. The publishers’ introductory advertisement draws attention to the sale of Sherwood forest in 1827, and recent disafforestation of Hainault and Wychwood and urges the preservation of Epping Forest for the benefit of London’s population.

Condition

8vo, orig. gilt and blind-stamped cloth, gilt decoration to upper board and spine, some light wear to head of spine. Very good.

Provenance: Illustrated, printed prize bookplate of Making Place Hall Academy, Soyland, near Ripponden, Yorkshire dated June 1856, awarded for Dancing & Etiquette, label partly removed. Making Place Hall Academy was a well-regarded Victorian boarding and commercial school noted for its unusually broad curriculum, which included academic subjects alongside drawing, riding, drill, dancing and other accomplishments.