A garden of flovvers vvherein very liuely is contained a true and perfect discription of al the flovvers contained in these foure followinge bookes. As also the perfect true manner of colouringe the same vvith theire naturall coloures ... All vvhich to the great charges, and almost incredible laboure and paine, the diligent authore by foure yeares experience, hath very laboriously compiled, and most excellently performed, both in theire perfect lineaments in representing them in theire coper plates: as also after a most exquisite manner and methode in teachinge the practisioner te [sic] painte them even to the liffe. Faithfully and truely translated out of the Netherlandish originall into English for the comon benifite of those that vnderstand no other languages, and also for the benifite of others nevvly printed both in the Latine and French tongues all at the charges of the author.

Abstract

Dedication signed: Crispian de passe Iunior. A translation by Thomas Wood or E.W. of: Hortus floridus. "The booke to his readers" is signed by Thomas Wood; the translator's dedication to book four is signed: E.W. In two parts, the first containing four books according to the seasons. Part 2, "Altera pars horti floridi" has divisional title and an engraved Biblical text ([2] leaves) followed by 62 leaves of plates with letterpress Latin descriptions on facing pages. Several plates in part 1, books 1 and 2 are signed by Simon van de Pass and Willem van de Passe. First part letterpress signatures: A-G² , all in English. These leaves were evidently intended to be dispersed through part 1, quires A-C having the general preliminaries and the text for book 1 (spring), quire D having the text for book 2 (summer), E1-F1 for book 3 (autumn), and F2-G2 for book 4 (winter). Some copies may have additional letterpress leaves with text in other languages. Copies vary in the number of plates in part 1, and plates may have letterpress Latin text on versos. For book 1 originally 41 flower plates (some unnumbered) and one "garden" plate were engraved (the latter with legend "Meridies" at top but other directions not labeled); later 12 plates numbered 43-54 were added. Book 2 originally had 19 plates; later a plate 20 was added, and another copy of the "garden" plate may be present. Book 3 has 26 numbered plates (two numbered 25) plus a "garden" plate with "Meridies" at top and the other three directions also labeled; book 4 has 12 numbered plates and possibly a duplicate of the second "garden" plate. For more details on states see "The Library", ser. 4, vol. 4 (1924), p. 181-206. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.