Bidspirit auction | 1918-1919 House, Homer D. Wild

1918-1919 House, Homer D. Wild Flowers of New York. University of the State of New York. Two Volumes. First Edition. - This two-volume botanical set, titled Wild Flowers of New York, was authored by Homer D. House, the State Botanist, and issued as Memoir 15 of the New York State Museum. Published by the University of the State of New York in Albany, the title pages are dated 1918, while the spines bear the date 1919. The work is bound in the publisher's original olive-green cloth with gilt-stamped lettering and decorative rules on the spines. This expansive set is highly regarded for its numerous full-page color plates, which depict native species including the Narrow Blue Flag (Plate 27), Tuberous White Water Lily (Plate 58), Swamp Rose Mallow (Plate 129), and Fireweed (Plate 144). In addition to the color plates, the volumes include black and white botanical diagrams illustrating leaf margins and plant structures. The title pages for both Part I and Part II feature the names of John M. Clarke, Director, and Homer D. House, State Botanist, with handwritten archival numbers 973 and 974 respectively above the publisher imprint. Approximate dimensions per volume: 12 by 9.5 inches. The set is in fair to good condition. The original cloth bindings show significant wear, particularly at the head and foot of the spines, which exhibit fraying and minor losses to the fabric. The covers show surface rubbing, edge wear, and scattered white spots or staining. The gilt lettering on the spines is legible but has dulled over time. Internally, the volumes remain generally clean with occasional light thumbing or minor handling marks. The hinges appear stable. No dust jackets are present.