BIVORT (Alexandre).

Album of Pomology. Volumes 1 to 4. Brux, Deprez-Parent, 1847-1851, 4 volumes bound in 2 vols. 4° oblong, brown half-chagrin, spine with 5 false nerves decorated with gilt boxes, author, title and tomaison gilt (spines, headpieces and qqs nerves rubbed, more pronounced foxing on some pages). First edition. This rare complete collection, published between 1847 and 1851, includes 190 lithographs executed with great finesse and realism. The plates, colored by hand, do not always represent perfect fruits; they may be damaged or diseased, a rare step at that time when perfection was sought. Following a search by Sotheby's in 1987, of the 8 copies listed, only 3 were complete. Most of the plates reproduce a large number of apple and pear varieties, but also grapes, cherries, raspberries, etc. "Of great value a wonderful record of the great number of fruits which were at this time being raised in Belgium" (E. A. Bunyard, Guide to Literature of Pomology). Unknown at Nissen, Dunthorne, Pritzel, British Library, or Kew. Extremely rare complete.