1914 Rare Book - Roses and Rose Gardens by Walter P. Wright, Illustrated
Author: Walter P. Wright. Illustrated by Beatrice Parsons.
Title: Roses and Rose Gardens.
Publisher: London, Headley Brothers, Bishopsgate, 1914 (Second Edition).
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9" x 7".
Pages: 299 pages + publisher's add.
Binding: Attractive and near fine beautiful publisher’s original decorative green cloth binding, with an elegant gilt title and a large red rose motif to the front cover and spine, framed with gilt and olive-green borders (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown), housed in the very good scarce original rare dust jacket, which is remarkably well-preserved with only mild toning and small edge wear and tear - as shown, under a protective removable mylar cover..
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing - as shown). Internally fresh and tight, with only a touch of foxing to the preliminaries. An exceptionally well-preserved example of an early 20th-century horticultural classic.
Illustrations: Illustrated with exquisite colour plates from watercolours by Beatrice Parsons, each protected by tissue guards, along with numerous monochrome photographs. Parsons’ luminous garden scenes—abundant with blooms and sunlight—capture the romantic essence of Edwardian horticulture at its peak.
Estimate: (USD 250 – 350).
The book: A remarkable copy of Roses and Rose Gardens—a horticultural and aesthetic celebration of one of the most beloved flowers in the English garden. First published in 1911 and reissued in 1914, this beautifully illustrated volume blends practical guidance with poetic appreciation. Wright writes with both authority and reverence on every aspect of rose cultivation—from propagation and pruning to the symbolism and cultural history of the rose. Chapters such as “Of the Grace, Beauty and Fragrance of the Rose” and “Of the Places in Which Roses May Be Grown” reveal the Edwardian fascination with gardens as spaces of artistry and meditation. The splendid illustrations by Beatrice Parsons elevate the work from manual to art book—each plate a delicate study of color and composition that makes the reader almost smell the bloom of roses on the page.
The author: Walter Page Wright (1868–1940) was a leading British horticultural journalist, editor, and author who helped shape public understanding of ornamental gardening in the early 20th century. A prolific writer for The Garden and The Royal Horticultural Society Journal, he authored several influential volumes including Alpine Flowers and Rock Gardens and Pictorial Practical Gardening. His accessible yet elegant prose helped democratize the art of horticulture for the growing middle-class readership of the Edwardian era.
The illustrator: Beatrice Parsons (1870–1955) was among England’s most admired garden painters. Known for her luminous depictions of English country gardens in full bloom, she exhibited widely and received commissions from distinguished patrons including Queen Mary. Her watercolors, characterized by delicacy and harmony of color, evoke a sense of timeless serenity. In Roses and Rose Gardens, Parsons’ plates perfectly embody the Edwardian garden ideal—romantic, tranquil, and filled with natural poetry.