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Last updated 26 July 2004
The Encyclopaedia of Antique Roses
Volume I
Journal des Roses , January 1877 through December 1882
Published by Limberlost Roses, 2004
Edited by R. E. Edberg, III
Reviewed by Clair Martin
Robert Edberg, the editor of this volume and a longtime friend, has finally published the first of what is to be three volumes of a reprint of the classic 19 th Century French Journal des Roses as The Encyclopaedia of Antique Roses Volume I . This monthly magazine was published between January 1877 and August 1914, and notably, each issue was illustrated with one full-color chromolithograph illustration of a rose, placed on the cover of each issue. Originally edited by the eminent French rosarian, Pierre Cochet, this monthly publication soon became the must-read rose journal in Europe and the United States. Unfortunately, because of the quality of the color illustrations, few copies have survived intact to the present day. Most were disassembled and/or discarded in favor of those very illustrations. Thus, to possess a complete run of this publication is an extraordinary occurrence. Edberg has lovingly produced an outstanding facsimile volume of the magazine, covering the period from January 1877 through December 1882.
For those of us challenged by our inability to read and comprehend French, Edberg has provided us with the original French text and an accurate translation in English! For the first time in my nearly 30-year rose career, I can read the original descriptions published in these rare volumes. My first glance through this phenomenal work answered two glaring rose questions for me! When I first came to The Huntington, we had a climbing rose planted in our collection of Tea and China roses which we called 'Reine Marie-Henriette,' introduced by Levet in 1878.
Some years back, the phenomenal Ralph Moore took particular notice of this climber while walking with me through the garden. He stopped, gazed at it a moment, and then said to me, "I don't know if that is 'Reine Marie-Henriette' or not, but it sure isn't the 'Reine Marie-Henriette' that grew in my father's garden!" Well, of course, the first thing I did was remove the identifying sign and then try to discover just what the rose's proper name actually was. Eventually, we discovered it was 'Parade,' a climber hybridized by Gene Boerner in 1953. Now after all these years, I'm happy to find, on page 70 of Edberg's publication, an original color illustration of the real 'Reine Marie-Henriette'. My rose was a cherry-pink, but the original Queen was a cherry-red! Ralph's memory never ceases to amaze me, and I owe him a debt of gratitude for his wealth of rose knowledge.
The truth is it's entirely possible a publication such as this one might just force all of us to take some second glances through our old rose collections. Illustrated under the name 'Rose Capucine' or 'Beauty of Glazenwood' is a fascinating yellow rose, striped with crimson. 'Beauty of Glazenwood' has always been listed as a synonym for the old China rose, 'Fortune's Double Yellow.' But clearly, the illustration for May 1877 is a different rose! If one reads the translation of the original text you will read that what was sent out as 'Beauty of Glazenwood' never seemed to match the illustration submitted by the originator, a Mr. Woodthorpe. The writer of the text article uses the word "mystery" to describe his confusion. The inference left to the reader is that Mr. Woodthorpe was using the illustration to sell a supposedly new and spectacularly-colored rose but shipping nothing more than the standard 'Fortune's Double Yellow!'
Few individuals or libraries are fortunate to possess a complete run or even a copy of the Journal des Roses , so this publication is a must-have to help us fill in those gaps. The price is a bit high for many of us, but hopefully we can make sure that the appropriate libraries purchase a copy.
Hopefully, the success of this publication will encourage and envigorate Edberg to continue and publish Volumes II and III and provide us with all 452 glorious illustrations and the complete text! No one who looks at this publication can doubt that it is a quality publication and a labor of love. Each page of text is printed on high quality archival paper and the prints have been printed on even heavier archival paper. Bob Edberg has poured his heart into this project and deserves our support.
This volume is hand-bound, and uses matte-finished acid-free paper. It can be opened flat to best display the plates. The plates are full, original-sized, on 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of heavy stock, with printed text on correspondingly light stock. It contains over 200 pp. and 72 colored plates. There is a forward by Odile Masquelier whose Lyon garden, Le Bon Maison, is on everyone's must-visit list.
VOLUME I is limited to 250 numbered copies, with the first 100 signed by the author and the bookbinder.
** Email, fax, or phone as per below. Price: $225.00 plus shipping. Standard surface media mail is $8.00 per book in the continental U.S. Other means of shipment will be billed at actual cost, as will shipments outside the Continental U.S. South Carolina residents must add 5% to book price.
Orders may be placed by telephone to Limberlost Roses, at:
864-472-2804, or by email, at bob@oldroses.com. All Sales are final.
Mailing address is: 270 Watkins Road, Campobello, SC 29322.
**** Mastercharge and Visa accepted, as well as checks or money orders ****
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The Encyclopedia of Rose Science
Edited by Andrew V. Roberts, Thomas Debener, and Serge Gudin
Published by Elsevier CIMA
Review by Clair Martin
This three-volume encyclopedia brings together an impressive list of scientists and authors. Their collaboration has produced a remarkably comprehensive survey of what today's scientific community knows about the Rose family. Written by leading experts from 17 countries and including over 100 articles ranging from ancient history of rose cultivation to the new science of genetics, this is no bedside read! One of the reasons we ordered it for The Huntington's Botanical Library is that a number of the articles have been written by men and women who have spoken at The Huntington over the years.
My one complaint about this publication is that the third volume is simply a reprint of Modern Roses XI. Anyone who already owns that volume may find themselves reconsidering this purchase, particularly at $640.00 plus shipping. However, I cannot overemphasize that The Encyclopedia of Rose Science is a truly definitive work which should be present in every library collection of Botanical Gardens, Agricultural Colleges, and Rose Societies worldwide.
If such an investment isn't in your personal budget, you might want to consider getting together a group of donors to collaborate in bequeathing a complete copy of this encyclopedia to your local Botanical Garden or Rose Society.
** To view the sale page for this item, click on the link below:
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* RATINGS are based on multiple factors - relevance, readability, and price being paramount:
* 1. ONE BUD - not worth the paper it's written on
* 2. TWO BUDS - has some merit, but could've used a little something more (je ne sais quois)
* 3. THREE BUDS - a strong effort, with valuable information or artwork but too much or not enough
* 4. FOUR BUDS - a World-class creation, worthy of high ranking in a horticultural library
* 5. FIVE BUDS - a exemplary opus, unrivaled in value to the world's horticultural knowledge, unlikely to be improved upon in our time
ARCHIVES - BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS - 2004 |