The Poetical Language of Flowers; or, The Pilgrimage of Love, Thomas Miller

£130.00

The Poetical Language of Flowers; or, The Pilgrimage of Love, Thomas Miller

Name: The Poetical Language of Flowers; or, The Pilgrimage of Love, Thomas Miller
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5536
Price: 130.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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The Poetical Language of Flowers; or, The Pilgrimage of Love, Thomas Miller — Second Edition

Publication: London, David Bogue, 1855

Formatting: 12mo, pp. xv, [i], 192.

Condition Report: Very Good. The binding remains structurally tight and firm, with the publisher's original elaborately gilt-stamped crimson cloth retaining a remarkable degree of its original brightness and lustre. The gilt tooling to the front board and spine is unoxidised and sharply defined. There is some expected minor rubbing to the extremities, with slight wear to the corner tips and the spine head and tail, alongside very faint, superficial fraying along the outer front joint that does not compromise the integrity of the boards. Internally, the all-edges-gilt text block is largely clean. The preliminary leaves exhibit some characteristic light toning and scattered foxing, though the main body of the text and the hand-coloured plates remain vibrant, crisp, and largely unblemished. The hinges are sound, and the endpapers are intact, presenting a highly attractive and well-preserved survival of a delicate Victorian gift book.

Catalogue Note: This 1855 Second Edition, published in London by David Bogue, is a lovely example of Victorian floriography. The volume is notably enhanced by eight exquisite hand-coloured lithographic plates by James Andrews, a highly regarded English botanical draughtsman and painter known for his delicate and accurate floral depictions.

The book features excellent provincial provenance, retaining the small, neat bookseller’s ticket of Webb & Hunt of Castle Street, Liverpool, to the upper corner of the front pastedown. Additionally, the front free endpaper bears the contemporary ink ownership signature of Deborah Cropper, dated August 25th, 1868.

Early editions retaining their original publisher's ornate gilt bindings in such well-preserved condition, complete with all hand-coloured plates, are increasingly scarce.

A captivating exploration of the secret language of the Victorian floral kingdom, Thomas Miller’s The Poetical Language of Flowers seamlessly weaves botanical folklore with classical poetry. Dedicated to the Princess Royal of England, the book was designed as a romantic guide for lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. It decodes the subtle messages behind various blooms, moving far beyond mere lists to offer rich, descriptive essays on the cultural and emotional significance of each flower. Profusely illustrated and charmingly written, this volume stands as a beautiful testament to the 19th-century fascination with floriography.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Thomas Miller

Book Publisher: David Bogue

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: History

Book edition: Second Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 208

Book Publication Year: 1855

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: James Andrews

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.