The Orchid-Grower’s Manual Containing Descriptions of the Best Species and Varieties of Orchidaceous Plants | Benjamin Samuel Williams | 1885 Victorian Botanical Orchid Book

A beautiful and increasingly sought-after late Victorian horticultural work devoted entirely to the cultivation and study of orchids during the height of England’s 19th-century orchid mania.

Published in London in 1885, this Sixth Edition, Enlarged and Revised of The Orchid-Grower’s Manual by Benjamin Samuel Williams is filled with detailed botanical engravings, greenhouse illustrations, cultivation guidance, and descriptions of orchidaceous plants collected and admired throughout the Victorian era.

The volume features numerous full-page and in-text illustrations throughout, including striking engraved studies of orchids alongside greenhouse and exhibition scenes.

Decorative green cloth binding with gilt orchid design to the front board and gilt lettering to the spine. Binding secure. Light rubbing and gentle age wear to boards and extremities. Pages show light age toning. Numerous engravings throughout remain crisp and well-preserved. 660pp. + several pages of ads in back of book. 

Provided is a glimpse into the Victorian obsession with exotic orchids and the elaborate greenhouse culture that surrounded them. Chapters discuss orchid houses, heating and glazing systems, propagation, collecting, flowering seasons, exhibition preparation, and treatment of newly imported plants — capturing both the scientific and aesthetic enthusiasm of the period.

Condition: Very Good 

Size: 5 1/2” x 7 3/4”

A visually striking Victorian botanical volume that beautifully captures the fascination and elegance of orchid cultivation in the late 19th century.