The Garden of Eden: or, An accurate Description of all Flowers and Fruits nowGrowing in England... as well in Seeds and Herbs, as the Secret Ordering of Trees and Plants

London: William and John Leake, 1675. Second combined edition, sixth edition overall. 2 parts in 1. [28], 148, [16], 159, [1] pp. Collation: A-L^8 A-L^8. Woodcut initials, some light soiling and edge staining to first few leaves, a few paper flaws, contemporary speckled sheep, upper joint with split at top and small adjacent hole Macclesfield copy, comprising parts I & II of Hugh Plat’s Garden of Eden. First published in 1608, the year of the author’s death, as Floraes Paradise and first published under its new title, The Garden of Eden, in 1653. Further editions followed, along with a second part in 1660, taken from Plat’s unpublished notes. The first combined edition was published in 1660, followed by this final 17th-century edition, the sixth overall.Plat (ca.1552-1608), the son of wealthy brewer, had the means and leisure to pursue his varied interests in agriculture and science. “His chief work on gardening, Floraes Paradise Beautified (1608), with recipes and conceits for gardens and orchards, covers every necessary activity, from the preparation of the soil, through all the techniques of cultivation, month by month” (ODNB). Plat conducted his experiments at gardens in St. Albans in Hertfordshire, and Bethnal Green and St. Martin’s Lane near London as well as Sir Thomas Heneage’s at Copped Hall, Epping.PROVENANCE: Earls of Macclesfield, South Library bookplate and small blindstamp on title-page.REFERENCE: ESTC R31801; Fussell pp. 15-16; Henrey 299; Hunt 340