An exceptionally rare and beautiful complete set of Thomas Moore's "The Octavo Nature-Printed British Ferns," published in 1859 at the height of Victorian pteridomania. This is one of the most celebrated botanical books of the 19th century, featuring revolutionary nature-printed illustrations of British ferns.

VOLUMES:
• Volume I: Polypodium to Lastrea (Genus I-X)
• Volume II: Ceterach to Ophioglossum (Genus XI onwards)

NATURE-PRINTING TECHNIQUE:
Nature-printing was a revolutionary 19th-century printing technique where actual fern fronds were pressed onto metal plates, capturing every vein, texture, and detail with extraordinary accuracy. Henry Bradbury was the master of this technique, and his nature-printed fern illustrations are considered the most accurate and beautiful botanical illustrations of the Victorian era.

AUTHOR:
Thomas Moore F.L.S., F.H.S. (1821-1887) was Curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden and the leading British pteridologist of the Victorian era. His works on British ferns remain definitive references.

PUBLISHER:
Bradbury and Evans, 59 Bouverie Street, London, 1859

BINDING:
Ornate gilt-decorated black leather binding with gilt fern motifs on spines. Stunning marbled endpapers in blue, brown, and white. Gilt edges.

PROVENANCE:
This copy is signed/inscribed on the front endpaper, adding historical provenance.