Catalogue of the Library of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Ceylon. November 1900

Description:

A scarce and important catalogue of the library holdings of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, compiled under the direction of John Christopher Willis (director, 1898-1912) by his wife, Minnie Willis. John Christopher Willis, an influential botanist, was instrumental in shaping the scientific and economic contributions of the Botanic Gardens during his tenure, and Minnie Willis’s role in compiling this catalogue underscores the often-overlooked contributions of women in botanical history. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka), trace their formal establishment back to 1843 under British colonial rule, though the site itself has a far older history of cultivation. By the early 20th century, the Gardens had become a renowned centre for tropical botany and economic plant research. This catalogue provides a detailed snapshot of the library's resources, reflecting the broad scope of botanical, horticultural, and agricultural knowledge available to researchers of the time. The Peradeniya Botanic Gardens played a pivotal role in the study of colonial agriculture, with a focus on crops such as tea, rubber, and spices.

Condition

8vo, later library buckram, orig. wrappers retained. Good. Withdrawn from an institutional library with neat ink stamps to endpaper, wrapper and title only; shelf label to spine.