1844 & 1845. Catalogue of Dahlias, and Bulbous and Tuberous Rooted Flowers, of the Most Splendid and Choice Varieties, Cultivated at Prince’s Linnaean Botanic Garden and Nurseries, Flushing, Near New-York [trade catalog].

The first American mail-order seedsman?

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Romaine: “Until proven wrong I shall name William Prince the first American seedsman who took advantage of the mail order business.”

Horticultural trade catalog from William R. Prince & Co., founded c. 1793 in Flushing, New York by William R. Prince, Jr.  Known as Prince’s Linnaean Botanic Garden and Nurseries, his business was a collateral successor to his father’s nursery begun in 1737, the first significant commercial nursery in the United States. See ANB for further details on both men’s activities.

Contents are predominantly devoted to dahlias (over 300 varieties), double dahlias, and such bulbous and tuberous flowers as hyacinths, tulips, fritillaries, lilies, narcissuses, crocuses, cyclamens, amaryllises, and peonies. “Remarks on the Dahlia” and “Dahlia, or Georgina” are given with detailed directions on how to cultivate bulbous and tuberous roots (pp27–29). A closing section offers “Seedling Stocks for Nurseries” such as fruit trees, magnolias, horse chestnuts, weeping willow, “Hawthorns, for hedge,” goosberries, various currants, strawberries, and “Tart Rhubarb.”

The “Thirty-Fourth Edition” is likely spurious. Romaine p332. OCLC, 4 copies.

Price: $275.00