First edition. Very scarce. Held in only a handful of institutions worldwide [Worldcat]. A charming 4-volume set of early Victorian seasonal anecdotes, poetical works, and historical, religious, and scientific notes regarding the changing seasons and how to enjoy them. Each volume is dedicated to a single season, with the entries corresponding to that particular time of year. For example, the first volume, which covers the colder months, contains a natural history of the robin and a history of the river Thames frost fairs amongst other winter tales.
In good to very good condition with the endpapers removed from all volumes along with the title page from the first volume. This may be because a previous owner had written an inscription on them which wasn't to the taste of a later owner. The corners are gently bumped and the first volume has some marks to the rear board, but apart from that the set is very attractive. Bound in forest green blind-stamped cloth with gilt botanical details and titles to the centre front board and spine, further decorated with fully gilt edges. Uniformly 17 x 10.5 cm. Pp. iv-viii, 366; [v], 320; [v], 360; [v], 392.
