THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF GARDENING 1712 FIRST ENGLISH EDITION, LEATHER BINDING

[DEZALLIER D'ARGENVILLE, A.J.]. The Theory and Practice of Gardening: Wherein is fully handled all that relates to Fine Gardens, commonly called Pleasure-Gardens, as Parterres, Groves, Bowling-Greens, &c. Containing divers Plans, and general Dispositions of Gardens. With the manner of laying out the Grounds, cutting the Terrasses. the method of Planting, and raising, in little time, all the Plants requisite in Fine Gardens. Done from the French Original, printed at Paris, Anno 1709. By John James of Greenwich. London: printed by Geo. James, and sold by Maurice Atkins at the Golden-Ball in S. Paul’s Church-Yard, MDCCXII. [1712].

First English edition, in two parts, leather-bound, hardcover, quarto (260 x 200 x 35 mm), pp.(12), 218, (2), with 32 double- or folded plates. Later full calf, richly gilt spine in six compartments, sides blind panelled, top edge gilt. Marbled endpapers, title-page in red and black, woodcut diagrams and illustrations in text, decorative initials, decorative head- and tail-pieces, printed side-notes, instructions to the binder at the rear. Condition: GOOD. Binding tight and secure with the hinges and joints intact, the covers with some very light wear. Lacking the first and last of the preliminary leaves containing the Royal privilege and errata (typical in early copies) but otherwise collates complete, the interior showing some light toning and thumbing, four plates partially lacking from the outer fold and rebacked with webbing, the remaining plates very well-preserved. Scarce.

Notes: Rare first English edition of Dezallier d'Argenville's 'La théorie et la pratique du jardinage', which was published anonymously in 1709 like the present first English edition. The most important work on garden design in the eighteenth century, with plates after designs by Alexandre Le Blond. The work popularized the manner of Le Nôtre and his school in the laying out of ornamental gardens: parterres, bosquets, fountains, basins, and cascades. André Le Nôtre (1613-1700) designed or redesigned the gardens of Versailles, the Tuileries and Fontainebleau. The book ran to 11 editions, in three languages. "The English version of d'Argenville's work first appeared in London in 1712. The translator was the noted London architect John James. It is well produced on good quality paper and profusely illustrated, the plates being the same as those in the original French work, but re-engraved by Michael van der Gucht. 'The theory and practice of gardening' deals fully with the design and formation of fine gardens, commonly called pleasure-gardens, [and] must have been the inspiration of many formal gardens designed in England during the early part of the eighteenth century."(Henry II, p. 493-495). An excellent copy in a beautiful binding. Henry 1426 & II pp. 491-495.