Radial, tangential, and crosssections of 350 north american woods from the 14volume rare book the american woods, published between 1888 and 1910 by the author, romeyn beck. After hough died, his daughter marjorie galloway hough completed as much of the project as her fathers research allowed. Romeyn beck hough 18571924 was an american physician and botanist best known for creating the american woods, a 14volume collection of wood samples from across north america. Houghs encyclopaedia of american woods, volume one text. Hough s encyclopaedia of american woods, volume 2 on. Dec 21, 2018 the american woods this online resource showcases pages from romeyn beck houghs unique fourteen volume work the american woods, a collection of more than paperthin wood samples representing more than 350 varieties of north american tree. With that device, he produced a series of books on american trees, which featured actual sections of woods, microscope slides, magic lantern slides, and printed cards made of real wood.
Houghs encyclopedia of american woods volume i by e. Romeyn beck hough was an american physician and botanist who was inspired to document all of the american woods, or at least the most. Each volume consists of a pamphlet of descriptive text, ordered geographically, and about. American woods received a grand prize at the 1889 paris exposition, and gold medals at the columbian, panamerican, louisiana purchase and alaska yukon expositions. An ambitious project, the american woods eventually comprised 14 volumes. One of the greatest american works on trees and woods, a labor of love. This remarkable work was the lifetime achievement of ro. This book has 25 different pages of very thin identified real wood samples showing three different cuts from the wood, being the transverse section,radial and tangential sections of the. Hough s encyclopaedia of american woods volumes i and ii plus their accompanying volumes of samples by harrar, e.
So you can imagine what 600 dpi scans from hough s masterpiece might do to me. Kim steiner made me aware of a most unusual opportunity for the discriminating woodbook collector. Description hough s american woods group of 17 books r. A reprint of the original edition which was titled. The american woods, exhibited by actual specimens and with. Houghs encyclopaedia of american woods 1957 edition. Most mounts display three specimens from a species of tree in transverse, radial and tangential sections. Compiled in fourteen volumes between 1888 and 19, the american woods is not just about wood it is wood, a book replicating, in a typically categorical fashion, the american forest. Each trees entry includes a cardboard plate with three cutouts into which hough mounted translucent slices transverse, radial, and tangential of the trees wood. Houghs microscope slides are of excellent quality, yet they are rarely encountered at auctions. Hough, romeyn beck, 18571924 hough, romeyn beck, 18571924 type. Romeyn hough 18571924 was singleminded in his devotion to trees he was also a new yorker, and when he embarked on the american woods, he turned to the trees of his state first in what would eventually grow to be a 14volume masterwork. Romeyn beck hough s original the american woods, of which this book claims to be a new edition, was particularly ambitious in that it contained, besides the descriptions of various trees and uses for their wood in north america, over a thousand physical samples of wood.
Basswood, american linden or lin, limetree, beetree. Property of the society of american foresters gift labels dated 1985 and some accompanying documentation. A tremendous resource and reference for natural historians, ecologists, woodworkers, antique dealers and anyone else interested in the natural history of american trees. Public library stamps, labels, perforation mark one of the greatest american works. The book was first published in 1888, and what you brought in today is. Revised edition at a new low price culled and assembled by romeyn beck hough between 1888 and 19 in what still remains a stunning and unparalleled achievement, american woods. The present three volumes, the first three of the series, are devoted to the woods of new york and the adjacent states. Hough personally collected specimens for 329 different species of tree from across the north american continent and cut them into paperthin segments, using a slicing device which he had invented specifically for. Hough s tremendous work on american woods, plus 34 additional specimen plates, first edition except for part 1 3d ed and 23 2d ed.
Tuliptree, white wood, yellow poplar, canoe wood 200 dpi image 600 dpi image ger. That is, writing more extensively on my long running interest in the study of natural history and in particular the history of early naturalists as well as the development of various scientific. This work represent hough s greatest achievement, and is invaluable due to the age and range of trees included, some of which are now extinct. Houghs encyclopaedia of american woods, volume 2 on. Laura rice, chief curator at the adirondack museum, speaks with andy flynn about houghs american woods, a 19thcentury book of thinly sliced wood samples published in lowville, n. Encyclopaedia of american woods hough s encyclopedia of american woods. Octavo, original tan and navy wrappers, wood samples on card mounts unbound as issued, each volume with its wood samples housed in original blindstamped cloth chemise and slipcase, metal clasps. Hough developed a specialized wood cutting machine, which he patented in 1886. The american woods, exhibited by actual specimens and with copius explanatory text, part i. Hough s encyclopedia of american woods volume i by e.
Published and sections prepared by the author, 188891. Hough s encyclopaedia of american woods was possible because hough collected thousands of extra samples for an eventual revised publication dengler 1980 and two professors from the duke universitys school of forestry penned it. Houghs encyclopaedia of american woods 1957 edition open. Between 1888 and 19, hough published a total of thirteen volumes of the work, but died in 1923 before being able to fulfil his epic fifteen volume plan. Description houghs american woods group of 17 books r. American commercial woods sample book titled hough s american woods commercial species ii, published and sections made by romeyn b. Mar 12, 2012 houghs american woods by jessica pigza march 12, 2012. The american woods by hough romeyn beck 18571924, 97814114676, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The american woods parts i, ii, iii and iv exhibited by actual specimens and with a copious explanatory text. Below is a selection of pages from romeyn beck hough s unique fourteen volume work the american woods, a collection of more than paperthin wood samples representing more than 350 varieties of north american tree. With some of the trees in the book now very rare the series now has an added. Transverse, radial and tangential sections of each wood specimen are included, along with their scientific and common namesin german, spanish and french, as well as english. Further details can be read in houghs 1887 prospectus, reproduced at the end of this essay. Between 1888 and 19, hough published a total of thirteen volumes of the work, but died in 1923. Rare 1880s houghs american commercial woods sample book. In this work, hough sought to describe the woods found in america, with a. From the special collections research center of the ncsu libraries. The american woods remains invaluable today due to the range and age of the tree samples hough included, and the librarys rare book. The american woods cleveland museum of natural history. James merrells brilliant book is an account of the gobet. Abaa the american woods, exhibited by actual specimens.
American woods is certainly a labor of love, which in his first volume hough dedicated to his own father, who in addition to his influence in houghs study of nature he also credits the original suggestion of the pursuit of the body of work covered in this entire series, officially titled, the american woods, exhibited by actual specimens and. Between 1888 and 19, hough published a total of thirteen volumes of the work, but died in 1923 before being able to fulfil. Each volume of houghs american woods contains 2526 types of wood. In this work, hough sought to describe the woods found in america, with a detailed description in an accompanying pamphlet, and with thin crosssections of actual woods mounted and labeled in accompanying stiff cardboard mounts. This edition is to consist of 15 volumes, each containing a large number of wood sections by r. Houghs encyclopaedia of american woods, volume one text text on. Aug 03, 2012 romeyn beck houghs 18571924 the american woods was a forestry manual which used actual botanical specimens to illustrate the variety and importance of our forest trees.
Octavo, original tan and navy wrappers, wood samples on card mounts unbound as issued, each volume with its wood samples housed in original blindstamped cloth chemise and. Use my list to save your favorite shows and videos for later. Originally issued with the help of hough s daughter in 14 volumes, we present here volume one only, the third edition. Hough s encyclopaedia of american woods volume vi text was written by ellwood scott harrar, ph. Slipcase scuffed and rubbed, head and tail of spine frayed, tiny gouges to rear cover of slipcase, some soil and chipping to faux page edges at top and bottom of slip case.
Houghs encyclopaedia of american woods volumes i and ii. Harrar and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. That is, writing more extensively on my long running interest in the study of natural history and in particular the history of early naturalists as well as the development of various scientific disciplines. Exhibited by actual specimens and with copious explanatory text, by r. The 14volume set, first published in 1888, is a comprehensive manual of north american hardwoods that does not rely on illustrations. These books, which feature thin veneers of 324 species of wood found in united states in the 19th century, were subscribed to and purchased in individual. Hough s american woods is an article from the american naturalist, volume 33. We only ship internationally via fedex with tracking which is why our shipping price might be higher than others. Houghs encyclopaedia of american wods volume vi text. Mar 12, 2012 what sets the american woods apart from other tree studies is the presence of samples of each and every north american tree that hough surveyed. Each page contains the traverse, radial and tangential cuttings of a type of tree. Houghs mind a companion work to american woods, which should be photodescriptive of the fresh leaves, fruits, leafless branchlets and barks of the various trees with photomicrographs of the wood structures of the principal species, and with the. Romeyn beck hough 18571924 was an american physician and botanist best known for creating the american woods, a 14volume collection of wood.
Season 17 episode 20 2m 47s watch ken sanderss appraisal of a 1910 houghs american woods 3rd edition set, in roadshows special. The possibilities offered by recent developments in that art suggested to mr. Representing twentyfive species by twentyseven sets of sections by hough, romeyn b and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Check out ken sanderss antiques roadshow appraisal of this 1910 houghs.
American woods by romeyn b hough, first edition abebooks. The american woods, exhibited by actual specimens and with copious explanatory text. Houghs american woods captures a piece of american history in a way no book has done before or since. A painstaking facsimile reproducing all specimen pages from the original volumes of romeyn beck houghs american woods, an indispensable reference. This volume is housed in a green cloth slipcase, with an 3 sided inner sleeve and a text description for that volume in original paper wraps edge reinforcements. Each volume number consists of text volume and volume of mounted sections. The set is complete, with all sample sheets and text. Hough s american woods by jessica pigza march 12, 2012. Apr 02, 2020 one of the greatest american works on trees and woods, a labor of love. Timberlines explores natural history in american woods. Library exhibit showcases books that feature images of trees. Enjoy the latest content from your local pbs station. Jun 09, 2016 in 1954, robert speller and sons, publishers, determined that a large supply of houghs original samples still existed and were in the possession of houghs daughter, marjorie. Planned as a 15volume series arranged geographically, only volumes of the american woods were completed before romeyns death.
Apr 05, 2019 hough s encyclopaedia of american woods by romeyn beck hough, 1957, r. Hough s encyclopaedia of american woods by romeyn beck hough, 1957, r. A new edition of romeyn hough s great work on american trees and woods, first produced between 1888 and 1928, the final volume coming out four years after the naturalist s death. Check out ken sanderss antiques roadshow appraisal of this 1910 hough s. Each volume consists of a pamphlet of descriptive text, ordered geographically, and about 25 plates. Book printed material the american woods, a publication in book form of beautifully prepared specimens of american woods, and with copious explanatory text by romeyn b. The american woods, exhibited by actual specimens and with copius explanatory text part 1 only. Houghs encyclopaedia of american woods 14 of 25 volumes. Each species is described in 3 parts, the first including historical notes and discussing its relative importance, the second describing the tree, its habit, diagnostic features, ornamental value and distribution with a map, and the third the wood, its anatomy, physical properties with.