[Rarebooks] FS: Hough's American Woods Commercial Species I & II

[Copperfish Books, LLC]

Greetings, 

We are pleased to offer a scarce two-volume set of The American Woods Commercial Species I & II, Illustrated by Actual Specimens with Full Texts, by Romeyn B. Hough. The wood samples on card mounts and illustrated explanatory booklets are housed inside interior cases that slip into two original faux-book slipcases with half leather over green cloth, decorative gilt, imitation marble page edges, metal clasps, and metal bosses on the binding. Octavos. Lowville, New York: Published and Sections Prepared by the Author, 1916.

There are 150 samples of wood: wafer-thin transverse, radial and tangential sections illustrating 50 species, window-mounted in 50 unbound card mounts. The samples represent 25 kinds of wood largely manufactured in the United States from broad-leaved trees which produce hard woods, and 25 from coniferous trees which produce soft woods. This beautifully crafted two-volume work is an special extraction from Hough’s larger work, which comprised 14 volumes of wood samples created over a 40-year time span (the 14th volume published posthumously).

Condition is very good. The wood sample mounts are complete, no samples or cards missing. Some of the samples have cracking, but most don’t, and overall they are in very good condition. The explanatory booklets are tanned and lightly worn, also in very good condition. The three-sided interior case, which holds the cards and booklet and fits into the faux-book slipcase, is green cloth over boards, blindstamped with the title, with floral decorated pastedowns. The inside joints of these cases are split but holding well, with no splits to the exterior joints. The outer slipcases have borne the most wear. The leather on the spines is drying and cracking, with some pieces missing, exposing the slipcase board underneath. We have re-attached one piece (about 1 x 2 inches) with archival glue. The cloth is in better condition than the leather, with only light wear, and the gilt on the cloth is bright. The slipcases remain very sturdy and protective of the valuable wood sample contents.
 
Romeyn Beck Hough (1857-1924) devoted his life to the study of American trees. His monumental 14-volume work, American Woods, provides a unique and thorough record of American wood types, arranged geographically. This scarce two-volume companion work, Commercial Woods, does not appear much at auction, nor are any copies currently available for sale online. This beautiful set is a treasure for any collector of Romeyn Hough or for those interested in the science, history and/or craft of wood.

Photos: http://bit.ly/mAhlAt

$2,750 includes domestic shipping.

We accept payment by PayPal, or by check or money order (domestic only). FL sales tax applied on orders shipped within the state, unless valid resale license supplied.

Thanks for looking.

Serena Wyckoff 
Copperfish Books, LLC

www.CopperfishBooks.com
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