Date based on English Catalogue of Books and form of publisher's imprint. Cf. Topp, Chester. Victorian yellowbacks & paperbacks, Vol. IV, 1999, p. xii.

"Published under the direction of the Committee of General Literature and Education appointed by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge."--T.p.

T.p. and text printed within thin black rule border.

Also published as part of a multi-volume set by the same author entitled "Flowering plants and ferns of Great Britain", of which some later eds. have the title: "Flowering plants, grasses, sedges and ferns of Great Britain".

"The Artist wishes it to be understood that he has purchased from Mr. J. E. Sowerby permission to copy from the Work lately published by him, entitled "The Ferns of Great Britain illustrated," certain details of the Plates, including the figure of the rare plant Gymnogramma leptophylla.": p. vi.

Plates are colour wood engravings produced using the "Baxter Process", with areas and lines that are printed with an intaglio metal plate.

All plates are with signature: "W. Dickes del et sc.".

Wood-engraved illustrations within the text are unsigned.

Wood-engraved illustrations and plates are the same, with some differences in colouring and signatures, as those used in an [1855] edition of this title published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. See McLean O 0504.

Includes "Index.": p. [165]-174.

Freeman, R. B. British natural history books, 3082.

Stafleu, F. A. Taxonomic literature ... , 2nd ed., v. 4, p. 383-384.

MASS copy: Bound in green pebble-grain cloth blocked in gold, black and blind; a.e.g. Upper cover with small red paper onlay blocked in black. Spine with imprint: "Warne & Co.". With red-brown painted endpapers. With binder's ticket: "Bound by Burn & Co.". Plate 284 misbound with plate 285.