BOTANY. - William ROBINSON. Flora and Sylva. London: 17, Furnival Street, E.C., 1903-1905. 3 vols., with 5 a.l.s. from William Robinson to E.A. Bowles, 4to (313 x 240mm.) 66 chromolithographed plates after H.G. Moon, tissue-guards, wood-engraved illustrations, a newspaper obituary of botanical artist Henry George Moon tipped-in on initial blank, 2 a.l.s.' mounted to front-free endpapers of volumes 1 and 2, the other 3 loosely inserted. (Mild toning, some spotting to plates in volume 3.) Original half vellum over white cloth, gilt titling to spines, t.e.g. (minor soiling to cloth, some scuffing). Note: the letters from Robinson to the horticulturist and writer E.A. Bowles cover the period of 'Flora and Sylva''s publication and reference the 'considerable loss' it causes Robinson financially. However, Robinson also suggests that it was the early death of botanical artist Henry George Moon which caused him to stop because 'there was no-one generally I could depend on whose work would be worth reproducing in the best way, a very costly affair'. Provenance: Peter Herbert, late owner of Gravetye Manor (bookplate to front pastedown of volume 1) (3).