With autograph letter to the engraver. First book edition, originally issued in parts between 1841 and 1842, with a loosely inserted autograph letter from the author to the engraver discussing the illustrations, dated March 8th, 1841.

The naturalist and artist Prideaux John Selby (1788-1867) was a specialist in forestry, ornithology, and entomology, and was taught to etch by his brother-in-law Robert Mitford, who had himself been taught by Thomas Bewick. Selby's major work was Illustrations of British Ornithology released in parts between 1821 and 1833 and containing 222 plates etched by the author after his own drawings.

'Selby's knowledge of botany and particularly of arboriculture was extensive. His practical experience in planting up hundreds of acres of ground at Twizell House with many varieties of trees, often recently imported, resulted in his being asked by Van Voorst to write a treatise on the subject, published as A History of British Forest Trees Indigenous and Introduced (1841–2)' (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography).

Selby's inserted letter reads, 'Dear Sir, I now send your drawings of the Field Cherry and the Common Maple, also the seed of the latter, and the cotyledons and the leaf of the Sycamore. The Gean [Wild Cherry] is not so fine a specimen as I could have sourced, but is a usual form of this of a middle age. I have not a drawing of the fruit of the Tilia Eu [Europa]: platyphylla, but it is not of much consequence as it so readily resembles that of T. Europ. already sent to you. The leaf of the Horse Chestnut and that of the Acacia are not of great comment, but I will see to look them out, and forward them to you. I have also sent some sketches made by a female relation. Should you be able to work from any of them, I should like one or two to appear during the course of the work, as tail pieces or vignettes. I write in haste to secure the post, and am yours truly, P. J. Selby'.

First book edition with ALS to the engraver loosely inserted; 8vo (21 x 13 cm); engravings throughout the text, gutter cracked between the front blank and half title, contents faintly toned, a little spotting to early leaves; late 19th century green half roan, spine gilt in compartments with 5 raised bands, green cloth sides, marbled endpapers and edges, binding slightly rubbed at the extremities, very good condition; 540pp.