Sylva, or, A Discourse of Forest-trees, and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesties Dominions

1664

De Beer Ec 1664 E

London: Printed by [John Martyn and James Allestry], Printers to the Royal Society

In September 1931, the Delegates of the Clarendon Press invited Esmond de Beer to prepare and edit the first full edition of John Evelyn’s diary. In pursuit of Evelyn (1620-1706), de Beer travelled to Italy (which he loved), France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The Diary, which covered Evelyn’s life from 1640 to 1706, was published in six volumes in 1955, to universal acclaim. As part of his preparation for this project, de Beer collected the works of Evelyn, many quite scarce, and if ever available, expensive. Sylva, the first publication of the then newly formed Royal Society, was Evelyn’s treatise on the practical instruction in the growth and management of trees. A popular work, it was reprinted numerous times. This is the scarce first edition.