ALPINE PLANTS PAINTED FROM NATURE [complete in four volumes]

London: W. Swan Sonnenschein & Allen, 1879. Book. Very Good. Hardback. First English Edition. 12mo (13 x 15cm). Complete four volume set, vol. I is dated 1879 to the introduction and volume II is dated 1880 also to the introduction; the other two volumes are undated, but all date to a similar perid. Each volume has a pictorial chromolithographic (colour-printed) frontispiece plate followed by 100 chromolithographic plates of alpine species and 101 plates in volume IV making a total of 405 colour plates; pp. vol. I: [4], 72, frontispiece of Montblanc and 100 plates; vol. II: [1880] [4], 56 frontispiece of Grossvenediger and 100 plates; vol. III: 59 [1], frontispiece of Jungfrau and 100 plates; vol. IV: xii, 51 [1], frontispiece of Dachstein and 101 plates. Top edge gilt, original colour-coated end papers. This work is usually found falling apart as it was originally 'perfect-bound' using gutta percha, which always eventually fails, this set has been rebound and is now firm and strong. Original publisher's quarter brown morocco with green cloth boards, lettered and decorated in gilt; bindings now good and strong, following professional and sympathetic repair, some mottling to fore-edges of boards with several repaired cracks and chips to the spines. Contents good and tight, a few pages a little 'out of line' where rebound, but no pages have been trimmed; the majority of plates very good and clean, a few with dust marking or light spotting to outer margins, several plates with light foxing, plate nos. 2 and 62 in vol. I worn to edges where previously loose; contemporary signature of a previous owner to the front of each volume, otherwise no inscriptions. A good to very good firm set..