Annales de pomologie belge et étrangère; publiées par la Commission royale de pomologie [...] Première [- deuxième] année.

2 parts in 1 vol., 4to: xxiii-121, [8]-113 pp.; 96 pl. (min. spotting and staining, some light ofsetting).

Contemp. quarter black leather, marbled paper on covers, gilt orn. flat spine.

First two years only of this luxurious edition published in instalments by the greatest Belgian specialists of the 19th c. i.a. the nurseryman Alexandre Bivort (1809-1872), the director of the Vilvorde horticultural school Laurent de Bavay (1795-1855) and a Namur man, passionate about horticulture, Auguste-Philippe Royer (1796-1867). Each year is illustrated with 48 plates, totalling 96 superb hand-coloured lithographic plates showing incredibly realistic fruits of which many pears and apples but also apricots, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, plums, grapes, etc. "De toutes les revues de pomologie fondées vers le milieu du siècle passé, et qui donnent l'iconographie des dernières créations, celle-ci est sans conteste la plus importante" (Hortus Belgicus). With some obituaries of members. Table at the end of each part.
Ref. Hortus Belgicus [Exhibition cat.], Brussels, 1962, 67. - Opac KBR. - BnF. - COPAC. - Not in Pritzel, Nissen, Plesch, Stafleu & Cowan.