[Binding, Fine- Stunning Striped Binding Triple Decker on Important Botanical Study of the Forest Trees in the US and Canada] The North American Sylva; A Description of the Forest Trees of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia..

Philadelphia: Robert P. Smith, 1853. Quarto. Three volumes. 10 x 6 3/4 inches. One of the greatest examples of a striped binding we have ever seen, in fine condition, and produced in small number for this classic color plate book. A classic treatise discussing and depicting the sylva (tree growth specific to an area) in particular areas of the US and Canada, and especially the Rocky Mountains, where American expansion Westward in the mid 19th Century had brought to light many new botanical discoveries, and herewith pictured in over 100 hand-colored lithographic plates. The bindings are expertly wrought with a fine woven dark green cloth that has lighter green horizontal lines every quarter inch, creating the celebrated "striped binding," which came into vogue briefly in the mid-1800, then disappeared. With a wonderful central bold heavily gilt depiction of a morning glory on a vine in bloom; the same image is blind-stamped onto the rear cover, and both covers have double-border embossed line design. Spine gilt lettering. This three-volume set was initially produced in the 1850's together with Michaux's work, but they stand alone as an independent unit describing the sylva and "not described in the work of F. Andrew Michaux," containing, "All the forest trees discovered in the Rocky Mountains, the territory of Oregon, down to the shores of the Pacific, and into the confines of California, as well as in various parts of the United States." Though the book states 121 plates, there are actually 131. "Few American color plate books had such lasting popularity as this classic work on American trees, or as tangled a publication history.... In 1856 a fire destroyed the premises of the publisher of the joint edition. The Michaux copper plate were saved, but the Nuttall stones were evidently lost, and the later joint editions used new stones" - Reese. Striped bindings are fascinating, and fine examples rare, but this with one three large quarto volumes is of special importance. AEG. Some water incursion lines spreading down, not causing warping; occasional foxing. On the whole, the text block is clean and bright, and the tissue-guarded plates are not affected. (Inventory #: 6121)