Except in binding (and, for the sponsors\' edition, paper) the standard edition is identical to the higher-priced versions.
As issued, there is no dustjacket. The printed paper-boards incorporate a drawing by the author, who was also responsible for the photographs and drawings in the text. The colour frontispiece and 16 plates, all of combretaceae species, are on art paper and were painted by Elize Buitendag under the author\'s supervision.
The covers, endpapers, plates and 236 pp of illustrated text, appendixes and indes, are unmarked and in near-original condition.
The foreword is by Meg Coates, daughter of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick and herself a notable botanical writer. She refers to the combretaceae book as the natural successor to this author\'s earlier book on the South African acacias. The combretaceae family\'s 19 genera and 600 species - which are found found only in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the continent - are outnumbered only by the acacias. Coates writes that the entire book is based on the author\'s own observations in the field and the herbarium. He often found himself in disagreement with the A W Exell, the leading botanist working in this area, and Coates attributes this to the fact that Carr worked only with live material, seen with the naked eye or a 10 x lens. \"He uses layman\'s English but botanical terms throughout, which are explained in the comprehensive glossary.\"
Coates singles out the coverage on propagation and cultivation as some of the most valuable in the book, and and she refers to Carr\'s own success in growing many species on his Sandton small holding.
Even more important was Denzil Carr\'s capacity to share his love and enthusiasm for trees with others. As Coates puts it: \"All of us who write about trees need to share our knowledge if we want to ensure the survival of our rich botanical heritage.\"
What is remarkable about this author\'s three botanical books (on Acacias, Combretaceae, and Tree Propagation) is that Denzil Carr was a full-time civil engineer.
The colophon notes that book was edited, designed and produced for the Tree Society of Southern Africa by Richard Proctor-Sims and Michael Barnett.
- Jacket Condition: (No jacket as published)
- Binding Condition: Near Fine
- Overall Condition: Near Fine
- Size: 290 x 220; 1 kg
- Sold By: Fontein Books
- Contact Person: Richard Proctor-Sims
- Country: South Africa
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: 051 773 0050/048 079 546 4032
- Preferred Payment Methods: Eft (South Africa), SWIFT (rest of world), or $ checks for US or Australian buyers
- Trade Associations: AA Approved
