Collection of Dr D G Hessayon (1928-2025)

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David Hessayon grew up in Salford and studied botany at Leeds University. He worked in journalism and research before obtaining a doctorate in soil ecology.  In 1955, he accepted a position as chief scientist with Pan Britannica Industries Ltd (PBI), becoming chairman in 1972. It was whilst working for PBI that David formulated the idea for his "Expert" guides to gardening.

^{Lot 663, Estimate £700 - £1000}

His guides were an instant success and over the following five decades over 20 titles were published, translations were made in 22 languages and the ‘Expert’ guides topped best selling lists; he was cited in the Guinness Book of Records as being Britain’s top selling non-fiction author of the 1990s. Accolades followed with The Royal Horticultural Society’s Veitch Memorial Medal in 1992 for contribution to the advancement and improvement of the science and practice of horticulture and in 1993 he received the first-ever Lifetime Achievement award at the British Book Awards. He was awarded three honorary doctorates and in 2007 the O.B.E. for services to gardening and charity. Dr D G Hessayon is acknowledged globally as the best selling horticultural writer of all time.

^{Lot 666, Estimate £200 - £300}

Away from publishing, David was married to the novelist Joan Hessayson and had two daughters, in retirement he settled in a beautiful Georgian villa, set in landscaped gardens, in the heart of Essex. He collected widely, including shells, fossils, coins, Native American and shipwreck artifacts, many of which he documented with a scientist’s eye for detail. Our forthcoming Fine Art sale on the 12th and 13th of August features a diverse collection of items from his beautiful country house, amongst them is lot 663, Transactions of the Royal Horticultural Society of London, a rare set including the scarce 1812 first publication from the Society, estimated at £700-1000. Lot 666 a group of fine specimen fish fossils is estimated at £200-300 and is one of several fossil lots from his collection. Further items from his Estate will be offered in later sales.

Antiques & Fine Art

Tuesday 12th & Wednesday 13th August | 10am

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