[Book bindings. Gardens. Splendid copy on large paper] Arthur Mangin. Les jardins.

Histoire et descriptions. Dessins par Anastasi, Daubigny, V. Foulquier, Français, W. Freeman, H. Giacomelli, Lancelot. Tour, A. Mame et Fils, 1867, VII,(1),444 p., illustrated with many wood-engraved plates and illustrations, splendidly bound for a member of the Irish Conolly family of Castletown in profusely decorated and gilt full red shagreen, with on the outside of the front board the initials, symbol and motto "En Dieu est tout" and on the inside the bookplate "E. Libris Bib. Castletown", ribbed and gilt back, all edges gilt and chiselled, folio (39.5 x 29 cm.) (corners trifle bumped, very good copy).

Fine and large example of an Irish or English 19th-century book binding, from the grand Irish mansion of Castletown House. We were unable to trace the binder. In 1926, Sotheby's in London auctioned off part of the library of Major G.M. Conolly of Castletown (Kildare), this book can probably be found there (unavailable online). The book is divided into 4 chapters: (1) L'antiquité; (2) Moyen age/ Renaissance; (3) Les jardins Français/ Anglais (and other countries); (4) Les jardins de nos jours. Springer p. 119 ("een zeer mooi uitgevoerd en geïllustreerd werk").