Small 4to (254 x 197 mm). Letterpress title-page, hand-colored chromolithographic title-page, 56 hand-colored lithographic plates. Original deluxe morocco gilt, covers with large central lozenge, gilt device within, spine in 5 compartments with 4 raised bands, gilt-lettering in one, others gilt, all edges gilt (a touch of light rubbing to extremities). Provenance: William L. Scott (armorial bookplate).

FIRST EDITION OF ONE OF THE FIRST COLORED PLATE BOOKS PUBLISHED IN AMERICA. "One of the most popular genres of color plate books in the antebellum period were those devoted to the sentiments associated with flowers. Colored illustrations of flowers were accompanied by a text which guided the reader through the hidden meanings of different blooms, with quotations and poetry appropriate to each. This is a pioneering example of the type, issued by the publisher of many early books with color, Fielding Lucas of Baltimore" (Reese). RARE: this edition has only appeared once at auction in over 15 years. Bennett, p.115; McGrath p.36; Reese, Stamped with a National Character 52; Sabin 104868.