1882 Scarce Floriography Book - Flora Symbolica, The Language of Flowers

Author: John Ingram. Illustrated by Terry.
Title: Flora Symbolica; or, The Language and Sentiment of Flowers.
Publisher: London, Frederick Warne and Co., Bedford Street, Strand, [circa 1882]. 
Language: Text in English.
Size:  7.5 x 5.5 inches. 
Pages: viii-360 pages. 
Binding: Attractive and near fine original publisher’s richly decorated blue cloth binding, stamped in black and gilt with elaborate floral and symbolic designs to the front board and spine, including butterflies, blossoms, and ornamental borders. Gilt lettering to spine and front board (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. An especially appealing example of a highly decorative Victorian gift book.
Content: Good to very good content (bright, tight and clean, some light foxing more noticeable in places like outer edges and margins, but never intrusive - as shown). A finely executed Victorian prize bookplate dated 1882 is affixed to the front pastedown - as shown.  
Illustrations: Illustrated with seven original color plates printed by Terry, each framed within elaborate gilt ornamental borders. The botanical illustrations are vivid, delicately colored, and well preserved, depicting flowers accompanied by their symbolic meanings. All illustrations complete.

Estimate: (USD 350 — 500).

The book: Flora Symbolica belongs to the nineteenth-century tradition of floriography—the symbolic language of flowers—combining botanical description, poetry, moral sentiment, and cultural symbolism. Compiled by John Ingram and published by Frederick Warne & Co., the volume reflects the Victorian fascination with nature as a vehicle for emotional expression. Lavishly illustrated and handsomely bound, the book was intended both as a reference and as a gift, and remains one of the most visually appealing examples of its genre.

The author: John Ingram was a nineteenth-century writer and compiler known for his contributions to popular literary and cultural reference works. His writings often blended education with moral instruction, reflecting Victorian tastes for refinement, symbolism, and sentiment.

The illustrator: Terry was a specialist color printer and illustrator active in the late nineteenth century, noted for his work on botanical and decorative plates. His illustrations for Flora Symbolica demonstrate the high standards of Victorian colour printing, combining precision with ornamental richness.