THE GARDENERS LABYRINTH or A NEW ART OF GARDNING. Wherein is laid down new and rare inventions and secrets of gardning not heretofore known.

London, printed by Jane Bell, and are to be sold at the east-end of Christ-Church, 1652 [i.e. 1651].. Title continued: For sowing, planting, and setting all manner of roots, herbs, and flowers, both for the use of the kitchin garden, and a garden of pleasure, with the right ordering of all delectable and rare flowers, and fine roots; as the like hath not been heretofore published by any. Likewise here is set forth divers knots for the beautifying of any garden for delight. Lastly, here is set down the physical benefit of each herbe, with the commodities of the waters distilled out of them, for the use and benefit of all. Collected from the best approved authors, besides forty years experience in the art of gardning: by D.M. Newly Corrected and enlarged 1652, in 2 parts. The second part has separate divisional title page dated 1651 and pagination; register is continuous. Small 4to, approximately 180 x 135 mm, 7 x 5½ inches, 11 woodcut illustrations in the text, pages: [8], 1-29, 32-90, 1-173, [13], blank endpaper included in collation, jump in numbering from 29-32, catchwords and register correct, nothing missing, contemporay sheep covers, rebacked in calf, gilt lettered label and gilt rules and date to spine, edges speckled red. A little scuffing to covers, corners slightly worn, a little worming to inner margins from page 123 to end of Part II, just touching 6 letters, no loss of meaning, a little pale staining and age-browning, heavy age-browning to 4 leaves, all text legible, small hole in page 45 affecting 4 words (paper fault?), missing words inked in margin, tiny burn hole in page 87, affecting 2 words, small part of 1 outer margin missing not affecting text, small library stamp to first pastedown ( Rothhamstead Experimental Station), tiny amount of old ink scribble to endpapers and few other minor faults, otherwise a very good copy. See: Blanche Henrey, British Botanical and Horticultural Literature before 1800, Volume 1, page 261; Rachel Hunt, Catalogue of Botanical Books, Volume 1, page 275; Catalogue of Printed Books in the Wellcome Library, Volume 3, page 266; John Evelyn had a copy of this title in his library. Geoffrey Keynes, John Evelyn, A Study in Bibliography, page 299; Christie's, The Evelyn Library, Part 2, page 104, No. 757. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.