HOVEY, Charles Mason (1810-1887). The Fruits of America, containing richly colored figures and full descriptions of all the choicest varieties cultivated in the United States. Boston & New York: [Vol.I] Hovey & Co. and D. Appleton & Co. in New York, [Vol. II] Hovey & Co., 1852-1856. 2 volumes, 8vo (270 x 180mm). Titles with wood-engraved vignettes, lithographic portrait frontispieces of Hovey and William Sharp, 96 chromolithographic plates by William Sharp & Son, numerous woodcut illustrations. (Endpapers in Vol. I a little discolored.) Contemporary elaborately gilt-panelled morocco (rebacked preserving portions of original spines with lowest compartments gilt to style, minor edgewear to lower board edges). Provenance: Mr. J. Lombard (presentation inscription from the author); Fall River Public Library (bookplates on rear pastedowns, ink stamps on titles and accession numbers on title versos, sold Christie's East, 12 June 2001, lot 45). PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY HOVEY on the front free endpaper of Vol. I: "Mr. J. Lombard / from his friend / C. M. Hovey / Dec. 25th 1854." Charles M. Hovey was a nurseryman in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the editor of the popular and long-running Magazine of Horticulture. The beautiful mounted chromolithographs in this work were finely executed by by the Boston firm headed by William Sharp, and describe a variety of apples, pears, cherries, plums, and berries. "The book has a place in the history of American printing as well as American pomology" (Oak Spring Pomona). The plates are accompanied by text which gives the history of each variety, a full description, its growing habit, flower and fruit, and advice on its cultivation. The present work was intended by Hovey as an international show-case for what American pomologists had achieved, as well as an essential reference guide. It originally appeared in parts between 1847 and 1856, and is considered complete in two volumes with 96 plates. In addition to the two volumes found here, Hovey also issued three parts for a third, unfinished volume. Bennett, p.59; Nissen, BBI 941; Oak Spring Pomona 61; Raphael 61; Reese 20 ("The first major work executed entirely in chromolithography"). A RARE PRESENTATION COPY: no other inscribed copies have appeared at auction according to online databases. WITH PLATES VERY FRESH AND CLEAN.