Flora: seu, De Florum Cultura. Or, A Complete Florilege furnished With all Requisites belonging to A Florist.

London: Printed by TN for George Marriott, 1676 A good copy of the second impression, corrected, 'with many Additions, and several new plates' in largely contemporary full leather binding. John Rea was an early to mid 17th century nursery gardener who is seen as a pioneer in methods of fruit growing and garden design. He lived at Norton's Ends, Kinlet, where he acquired and cultivated a large variety of garden plants, fruits and shrubs, including a major collection of tulips. This work was intended to provide an extensive catalogue of his plants together with the benefit of his horticultural knowledge and experience. The binding has the original full calf boards which are clean and with some scuffing and repair to build up the corners. The spine is newer and has raised bands with red title label and a date in gilt at the base. The spine has some scuffing. The free endpapers have been replaced. Contents: The Mind of the Front; engraved title; rubricated title; dedications 10pp; To the Reader 4pp; To the Reader 2pp; Poem to the Ladies 4pp; Flora The First Book with engraved vase of flowers to top of the first text page pp 1-168; Ceres The Second Book with different vase engraving to top of first page pp 169-191; Pomona The Third Book - again with different flower vase engraving pp 192-231; The End; 8 plates of garden designs; Direction for the Tables 1; Latin index 3 pp; The Table with errata 3 pp; Finis. Text with decorative initial capitals. There is a mispagination with continuous text: 147-148-147-148-151. The contents are clean and sound with occasional marking, and some page repairs. Page edges are darker toned. There is an old tape repair to the base of 'The Mind' and a further old repair with 2 new small archive tape repairs to edges of the engraved title. There are small closed tears at the top edge of p 25, gutter p 113, bottom edge p 115, and small repaired holes at pp 60 and 69. There are 2 very small side edge tears to the Directions for Use of the Tables and the second Latin index leaf. There are some occasional old ink notes in margins eg top margin p 3 and the odd ink spot eg side margin p 116 - 117 and p 157. Please enquire if you would like to see additional images.