The American Woods, Exhibited by Actual Specimens and with Copious Explanatory Text

Title: The American Woods, Exhibited by Actual Specimens and with Copious Explanatory Text Author: Hough, Romeyn Place: Lowville, NY Publisher: Published by the Author Date: 1893-1904 Description: Parts I-X only (of eventually 14). Each volume comprised of text booklet in wrappers, plus wood samples on card mounts, loose as issued. 254 mounts (numbered 1-250,. with additional plates 7a, 7b, 26a & 62a), with a total of 762 wood specimens. Each mount displays three specimens from a species of tree in transverse, radial and tangential sections. 9x6". Card mounts housed in blind-stamped green cloth chemises with printed inside covers. Second edition of Parts I-III, First Edition of parts IV-X. One of the greatest American works on trees and woods, it is: “illustrated by actual specimens, and being in this way an exhibition of nature itself it possesses a peculiar and great interest never found in a press-printed book” (Hough). Romeyn B. Hough prepared the samples himself and self-published the work. It provides a unique record of American wood types, arranged geographically. Several parts in this section cover California and the Pacific Slope. This is a tremendously important work for ecologists as well as connoisseurs of American furniture and antiques. Each specimen is about 2x4½” in size and cut thinly enough to be partially translucent. This set is only very rarely found complete, presumably because it was published over a span of 40 years. Lot Amendments Condition: Lacking slipcases; Part VIII lacking chemise; general light wear to wrappers, front wrapper of Part I creased; some mild soiling to chemises and card mounts; approximately 60 of the individual samples exhibit some light cracking or chipping as is to be expected, one sample (transverse sample of card 167, California Juniper) lacking approximately ½ of the slice; overall very good. Item number: 183298