Encyclopaedia of House Plants by Rob Herwig
Encyclopaedia of House Plants (Collectible Illustrated Hardcover Edition)
The Definitive Comprehensive Reference Manual for the Selection, Care, and Cultivation of Over Fifteen Hundred Indoor Species
The Definitive Comprehensive Reference Manual for the Selection, Care, and Cultivation of Over Fifteen Hundred Indoor Species
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Encyclopaedia of House Plants
- Author: Rob Herwig
- Publisher: Hamlyn / Littlehampton Book Services Ltd., London
- Publication Date: 1984
- ISBN-10: 0600305619
- ISBN-13: 9780600305613
- Edition Details: Presumed First Edition thus (1984 English Language Release). A highly prized, comprehensive single-volume compilation specifically optimized for international indoor plant collectors.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium full-cloth boards, structurally firm with distinct metallic title stamping along the spine face.
- Physical Format: Large Thick Quarto (4to), 288 pages. Lavishly supplemented with thousands of vivid, high-fidelity full-colour studio photographs, diagnostic care symbols, and structural indoor zoning charts.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior Boards: The original full-cloth hardboards are exceptionally straight, solid, and flat. The spine remains completely unbroken, firm, and uncreased, displaying a rare absence of standard reading stress. Showing only microscopic handling wear along the bottom rims, remarkably preserved for a heavy reference handbook.
- Interior: The structural text block binding is remarkably tight, square, and firm. Internal leaves and hundreds of high-gloss color plates are exceptionally clean, crisp, bright white, and fully intact. Completely free of contemporary previous owner ink signatures, modern highlighting, text underscores, dog-ears, or dealer pencil notations.
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The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
- Condition & Integrity: The original graphic dust jacket is present. True to a heavy reference volume of this era, it exhibits clear, age-appropriate signs of wear, localized primarily as vintage chipping and small micro-tears along the extreme edges and spine boundaries. The jacket has been carefully stabilized, held together beautifully, and is now fully preserved under a high-grade archival cellophane protective cover sleeve.
Synopsis & Historical Value
First released in 1984 by Hamlyn and distributed via Littlehampton Book Services, Rob Herwig’s Encyclopaedia of House Plants stands as an unassailable classic and one of the most ambitious single-volume references ever dedicated to indoor botany. Masterfully written by one of Europe's foremost horticultural authorities, this massive compendium delivers highly detailed guidance on the exact physical attributes and care requirements needed to maintain more than 1,500 distinct species.
The genius of this work lies in its staggering breadth, bridging the gap between delicate tropical flora and unusual indoor agriculture. The encyclopaedia methodically catalogs a massive array of foliage plants, exotic flowering species, interior trees, indoor bonsai adaptations, and even container-grown vegetables. Each botanical entry is paired with full-colour studio photographs and easy-to-read care keys mapping out precise humidity thresholds, winter resting temperatures, watering intervals, and soil mixtures. Rich with timeless advice and pristine visual production, this cellophane-protected volume remains an essential handbook for casual houseplant enthusiasts, professional decorators, and rare book collectors nationwide.
Author Profile: Rob Herwig
Rob Herwig is a world-renowned Dutch horticulturalist, photographer, and incredibly prolific author who became one of the ultimate international authorities on indoor plant care during the late 20th century. Writing from his expansive, custom-built testing greenhouses in the Netherlands, Herwig authored over 30 definitive guidebooks that were translated into dozens of languages, selling over 9 million copies globally. Celebrated for his highly logical, empirical approach, he stripped the intimidating guesswork from botany by pioneering the use of quick-reference icons for watering and lighting metrics. His landmark encyclopedias remain the foundational golden benchmark for international auction blocks, academic research labs, and serious antiquarian collectors across the globe.
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