1900 — Very Good Turkish, Ottoman (1500-1928) Original notebook in marbling wrappers. Slight chippings on the cover's extremities. Demy 8vo. (21 x 16 cm). In Ottoman script (Old Turkish with Arabic letters) text with Latin titles. [84] blank pages, color, and b/w ills. Scarce, richly illustrated Ottoman and a rare botanical manuscript on gardening, featuring as well the European flower cultivation of Turkish and Middle Eastern flowers. The manuscript starts with an introduction on gardening and floriculture and mentions trees and proper soils, tree and flower planting methods, pine trees, etc. In the "flowers" section, detailed descriptions on floriculture of Daisy, Begonia, Chrysanthemum, Dianthus, Hydrangea, Souvenir de la Malmaison, Oeillet Marguerite, Geant de Nice, Nicotinia, Generaria, Frimula, Calcealaire, Hyacinthus, Istanbul Lâlesi [i.e. Tulip, or Pauble de Constantinople], Albus, Bulbocodium, Bicalor Empress, Bicalor Emperor, Penoncul, Freesia, Ixia [i.e. Lillies], Cyclamen, Glaieul colvillei, Sparaxis, Cycl. Persicum, Iris, Azalea, Giroffe, Lobelias, Meuflia (Snapdragons), Silene, Gloximia, etc. and 19 numbered illustrations which are hand-drawn in color and b/w show the gardening and decorative elements in English and French styles.
