Wayside and Woodland Trees Edward Step c.1908 175 Plates Illustrated
 
Title & Bibliographic Details
WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND TREES
A Pocket Guide to the British Sylva
By Edward Step, F.L.S.
London and New York: Frederick Warne & Co.
First published 1904. This copy is an undated early expanded issue, probably c.1908.
The original 1904 issue is recorded with 127 plates. This copy contains 175 plates, including 24 in colour, and the preface specifically states that 48 extra plates have been added. The series list preceding the half title also includes volumes that appeared in 1908, providing strong evidence that this particular issue dates from around that period.
The book contains 182 pages and is illustrated throughout with water-colour drawings by Mabel E. Step and photographs by Henry Irving and Edward Step.
 
Historical & Bibliographic Context
Wayside and Woodland Trees was the second title in Frederick Warne's celebrated Wayside and Woodland Series, following Wayside and Woodland Blossoms. It was designed as a practical pocket guide for the country rambler and nature-lover, rather than as a technical forestry manual.
Edward Step explains in his preface that the purpose was to provide a straightforward means of identifying Britain's native trees and larger shrubs, while also including selected exotic species that had become naturalised or conspicuous in British woods, parks and gardens.
The book is divided into two sections. Part I covers species generally regarded as indigenous to the British Isles, while Part II considers trees and shrubs of foreign origin.
The revised early issue represented here is particularly attractive for its 175 plates, 24 of which are in colour. The black-and-white photographic plates often show trees in both summer and winter, together with details of bark, flowers, fruit and leaf-buds, while the text illustrations provide further botanical identification points.
 
About the Author
Edward Step (1855–1931) was an English naturalist and prolific author of popular works on botany, zoology and natural history. He is particularly associated with the Wayside and Woodland books, several of which were illustrated by his daughter, Mabel E. Step.
 
About the Illustrator
Mabel E. Step was an accomplished botanical artist and the daughter of Edward Step. Her water-colour studies of flowers, fruits, leaves and other botanical details form an important part of the visual character of the Wayside and Woodland series.
The present volume also contains photographs by Henry Irving and Edward Step.
 
Binding & Exterior Description
Original Frederick Warne publisher's binding in green cloth over the boards and spine, designed to imitate leather.
The upper board has blind-stamped borders surrounding gilt and black lettering, together with a gilt botanical design of leaves and stem. The spine carries further blind-stamped borders and gilt lettering. The boards have rounded, bevelled corners characteristic of the early Wayside and Woodland format, with sprinkled page edges.
The binding is intact and robust and remains in good condition for its age. There is a slight lean to the spine, light rubbing to the edges, a few very small marks and other light signs of age and handling.
 
Interior Condition
The book has the characteristic marbled and illustrated endpapers, incorporating photographic images of trees.
The pages are lightly tanned. There is foxing to some preliminary leaves and towards the rear of the volume, with foxing also visible to the page edges and occasional light foxing elsewhere.
Aside from this, the contents are neat and predominantly uncreased. There are a couple of very small edge tears which do not affect the text.
The binding remains secure, with only a very light gutter crack beside page 182 which does not affect the integrity of the book.
All 182 pages are present, together with all 175 plates.
 
Physical Details
Dimensions: approximately 16.4 × 11.6 × 2.8 cm
Weight: approximately 420g
Illustrations: 175 plates, including 24 in colour, plus text illustrations
Dust jacket: None present
Language: English
 
Provenance
An ownership inscription to the front flyleaf reads:
“P. M. Denty”
There are no further pen or pencil annotations.
 
Collector Notes
The original 1904 publication is an established and collectable title within Frederick Warne's Wayside and Woodland series. Early copies with the expanded 175-plate format are readily identifiable by the additional plates and the corresponding preface.
This is not the 1904 first edition, which is associated with the earlier 127-plate issue. Rather, it is an attractive early expanded issue, probably dating from around 1908, based on the contents of the series list and the 175-plate format.
The book is especially appealing to collectors of botany, British natural history, dendrology, botanical illustration and the Wayside and Woodland series, as well as those attracted to the distinctive early Warne bindings.