The Folio Society Launches The Herefordshire Pomona

 http://www.foliosociety.com/book/POM

As the apple harvest approaches, London publishers, The Folio Society, are launching a beautiful limited-edition facsimile ofThe Herefordshire Pomonaon 19^thSeptember 2014. The illustration plates in this Victorian encyclopaedia of apples and pears are exceptional examples of chromolithographic printing, and the text gives fascinating insights into horticultural life during the 19^thcentury. Originals of this work are rare and can fetch over £10,000 at auction.

The Herefordshire Pomonais the most comprehensive study of apples and pears grown in Britain ever published, with over 430 different varieties all beautifully illustrated. With an ever-increasing interest in craft cider and heritage fruit production, the book provides a valuable resource, even today, for those wishing to identify cultivars of both apples and pears. In addition to its engaging qualities as a compendium of all manner of historical and cultural facts and figures,The Herefordshire Pomonais, perhaps, first and foremost an important work of botanical art, and one of the loveliest printed books ever published in this country.

The Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club produced the original edition ofThe Herefordshire Pomona, which took over 7 years to complete. This is a Herefordshire society founded in 1851 and still active today, with interests including natural history, geology, archaeology and architecture.

The Folio Society is famous for its exceptional productions of great literary works and this is exemplified inThe Herefordshire Pomona. The edition is produced in two volumes for ease of use - one containing the 77 colour plates and the other a comprehensive commentary. Bound in Indian goatskin and canvas with gilded paper edges, the books are housed in a lined presentation box. Also included are four of the most beautiful plates for framing. This is the perfect addition to any collector's or enthusiast's library.

The Herefordshire Pomona is available to purchase at http://www.foliosociety.com/book/POM from 19^thSeptember 2014, price £395.

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Notes to Editors

Launch Event
The Folio Society will be hosting a launch event for the new Pomona on 1st October at Dewsall Court, Herefordshire, 7-9pm. If you would like to attend please send an email to ann@theseedgroup.co.uk.

About The Folio Society
The Folio Society is a privately owned London-based publisher, founded by Charles Ede in 1947 and incorporated in 1971. It produces illustrated hardback editions of classic fiction and non-fiction books, all with bespoke illustrations andspecially designed bindings. Folio Society Limited Editions are sought after by book collectors worldwide.

Chromolithography
The Pomona is an important example of chromolithographic printing. In earlier times, most fine botanical books were illustrated with engraved plates or aquatints, which were then coloured by hand; this inevitably led to a great variation in colour and accuracy. However, during the 19^thcentury, colour was introduced to the new technique of chromolithography, andThe Herefordshire Pomonawas one of the first books to take advantage of this breakthrough. A team of highly skilled artists (their apprenticeship would take at least seven years) separated out the original painting into hues, tones and textures, and painstakingly redrew all these layers onto a series of stones, all kept in register by a master key-line drawing. Each plate forThe Herefordshire Pomonawould have required eight or even ten stones to capture the subtle shades of the fruits and blossoms.

Pomona
Pomona is the goddess of fruitful abundance in ancient Roman religion and mythology. Her name comes from the Latin pomum, "fruit"; specifically orchard fruit. In artistic depictions she is generally shown with a platter of fruit or a cornucopia.