[HALE, Thomas]. Eden: Or, A Compleat Body of Gardening. London: printed for T. Osborne, T. Trye, S. Crowder and Co., and H. Woodgate, [1756-]1757. Folio (413 x 254 mm). Engraved frontispiece by Charles Grignon after Samuel Wale, 2pp. dedication to Earl of Bute, 58 engraved plates (of 60, lacking plates 19 and 37). (Some mostly marginal soiling to a few leaves, several leaves with marginal worming, slight marginal chipping to last few leaves.) Contemporary calf gilt (rebacked, preserving original spine and lettering-piece). FIRST EDITION, intended as a companion to the Compleat Body of Husbandry (London, 1756). Each weekly part includes information on what should be done in the garden during the following week together with descriptions of the plants that should be at their peak at that time. According to the author's introduction: "We shall treat Gardens from their Origin, Design, and first Construction, to the raising them to Perfection, and keeping them in that condition; and we shall consider, in our Course, their Products, whether of Use, Curiosity, or Beauty. These we shall describe in their several Seasons, suiting our Publications to the Time of their Appearance." Henrey III.776; Hunt 559; Nissen BBI 880.