The Miniature Fruit Garden... Thomas Rivers

£67.50

The Miniature Fruit Garden... Thomas Rivers

Name: The Miniature Fruit Garden... Thomas Rivers
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4788
Price: 67.50 GBP
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The Miniature Fruit Garden; or, The Culture of Pyramidal and Bush Fruit Trees, Thomas Rivers — Twelfth Edition

Publication: London, Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green, 1864

Formatting: 8vo, pagination unverified, complete with double-page plate and in-text illustrations.

Condition Report: Good. The publisher's original cloth binding remains entirely sound and structurally secure, though it exhibits noticeable historical wear commensurate with a working horticultural guide. The boards present a pronounced dark moisture stain to the centre of the front cover and another to the lower edge of the rear board. The extremities are lightly rubbed, with mild bumping to the corners, while the spine shows characteristic fading alongside minor fraying to the head and tail caps. Internally, the text block is well-preserved; the pages are relatively bright, punctuated by occasional light toning, scattered foxing, and minor handling marks. The hinges are holding firmly, ensuring a tight and highly readable copy.

Catalogue Note: This is the twelfth edition of Thomas Rivers's highly influential and resourceful 19th-century guide to fruit tree cultivation. Bound in the publisher's original reddish-brown, blind-stamped cloth, this edition is notable for its inclusion of a large double-page folding plate of a pear tree, alongside numerous in-text woodcut illustrations detailing root-pruning and bush shaping.

The front free endpaper bears a neat, contemporary ink ownership inscription reading "Richard Penruddocke, 5 February 1865," offering a factual glimpse into the volume's early provenance shortly after publication. While later editions of Rivers’s work frequently appear on the market, surviving copies of this specific 1864 printing, particularly those retaining their original publisher's cloth and folding plates, are uncommon.

In The Miniature Fruit Garden, pioneering Victorian horticulturist Thomas Rivers provides a masterclass on the cultivation and management of pyramidal and bush fruit trees. Designed not for the sprawling estates of the wealthy, but for the passionate home gardener with limited space, this accessible guide champions the techniques of root-pruning and biennial removal to maximize yield and tree health. From the famed 'Early Rivers' plum to the meticulous shaping of pear and apple trees, Rivers's enduring advice transformed 19th-century orchards and remains a fascinating historical window into the golden age of British fruit growing.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Thomas Rivers

Book Publisher: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Leisure, Crafts & Hobbies

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1864

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.