Hereford apple catalogue 200th anniversary marked

The illustrations in each copy are different as they are hand-coloured

The 200th anniversary of the world's first book cataloguing apples and pears is being celebrated in Hereford.

The Pomona Herefordiensis was produced by Herefordshire-born horticulturalist Thomas Andrew Knight.

The book contains Knight's own detailed and scientific description of 30 apple and pear varieties, each with a hand-coloured illustration.

Hereford City Museum are working with the Cider Museum to develop an exhibition on his life and work.

Appeal

Pomona Herefordiensis It was produced as a ten piece 'part-work' between 1808 and 1811 by the Agricultural Society of Herefordshire. Each of the 30 illustrations in each work were hand-coloured, making every copy unique The illustrators included Knight's own daughter, Frances

Kate Andrew, Herefordshire Council's principal heritage officer said: "The Cider Museum and Hereford Library both hold copies of the Pomona, each one slightly different to the other, and the exhibition will highlight each one and allow visitors to explore the artworks up close.

"Knight's belongings have been widely dispersed over the last two centuries so we would very much like to hear from anyone who might have papers, pictures or artefacts relating to Thomas Andrew Knight and who is prepared to share them to help make this exhibition as special as we can."