C. L. Allen, "Bulbs and Tuberous-Rooted Plants"

Rodger Whitlock totototo@pacificcoast.net
Mon, 07 Feb 2005 10:37:42 PST
I'm whittling down my library. One of the books I've moved to a 
"dispose of" box is

"Bulbs and Tuberous-Rooted Plants"
by C. L. Allen
v + 311 pp
Orange Judd Co, NY, 1893
1920 printing


The book's in beautiful shape. A few markings inside the front cover, 
but otherwise very clean. Binding is in tip-top condition. Even the 
metallic stamping on the spine is still good.

It struck me that I shouldn't just cart this off to one of the local 
book dealers, given its focus on bulbs, but I don't know what else to 
do with it. Can anyone suggest a way of getting it into the hands of 
a bulb-nut?

IMHO, the primary value of this book today is as a record of what was 
being grown in the eastern US in the early 1890's. For example, 
eleven species of Calochortus are listed.

The book is sparingly illustrated with what I suppose are engravings 
of some sort, but not the kind richly printed on separate pages and 
ripe for a book butcher to tear out and frame.

So, to repeat my question: what's the best way of ensuring that this 
gets into the hands of a bulb nut, or, perhaps, a library with an 
emphasis on horticultural subjects?

Copies of this title are plentiful on ABEBooks and Albris at prices 
ranging from $9.50 to $45 (US dollars). It's no screaming rarity.


I haven't a clue if it's a *good* book or a *bad* one.

-- 
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate

on beautiful Vancouver Island


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