ROSSER, Celia E. and Alexander S. GEORGE

The Banksias [three volumes]

Melbourne, Monash University, 1981 (in association with Academic Press, London); 1988 (in association with the State Bank of Victoria); and 2000 (in association with Nokomis Publications).

Elephant folio (775 × 560 mm), three volumes, containing a total of 76 colour plates by Celia Rosser ('the first time that an entire genus of this magnitude has been painted and reproduced', according to the publisher); loosely inserted in the second volume is a paper portfolio containing six Rosser prints.

Three-quarter calf and buckram, top edges gilt; all three volumes are still in the publisher's robust packaging, and the first and third volumes are in very fine condition. Indeed, all volumes are essentially unused, and the set has been in storage for many years. The carton containing the second volume was at the bottom of the pile, on an (uneven) concrete floor. Alas, the stout boards are now slightly bent, and the leading and bottom edges are moderately foxed, extending in some instances into the margins by a few millimetres. We have investigated various options for restoration, but the suggested remedies proved to be no better than the existing problems, so the set is offered as found.

The first two volumes are limited to 720 numbered copies, the third to 520; all three volumes of this set are number 221. Complete sets are rare on the open market, and perhaps not surprisingly: when we sold one in 2016, we discovered that all three volumes were still in print at a total retail price of $9889. [3 items].