My Ten-Rod Farm; or, How I Became a Florist
Boston: Loring, 1869. First Edition. Small Octavo. Item #029176
119 pages. First published as a Pamphlet. Although the above shows the pseud. Mrs. Maria Gilman as is also the case in the early newspaper ads (1869), the item appears only a year later identifying Charles Barnard as the author who later was known for his many books on gardening. Why this work is so scarce may be for possible charges by an actual Maria Gilman who does appear in the Boston papers of that era but has no connection with the book. Also, the book is reflective of the era where many authors promised by correct farming and using the correct gardening methods one could not only survive but make (as is the case in this novel) $2,000 a year. Pamphlet was bound in full black Morocco, decorative gilt board edges, flat spine lettered and ruled in gilt in gilt, chip to head, upper board with short split near foot, contemporary owner's gift inscription to title page, and a small stain penetrating through a handful of leaves with short closed tears to edges, pale yellow endpapers. very good copy of an item that is extraordinarily scarce. [Wright II: 218, Harper's New Magazine].
Price: $235.00