The Robert ‘Bobby’ Boutflour (1891-1960)

Robert ‘Bobby’ Boutflour was a notable figure in agricultural circles. From 1931 to 1958 he was Principle of the Royal Agricultural University at Cirencester and was responsible for a radical remodeling of the University, expanding the student numbers from 50 to 800 during his tenure.

He published significant works, particularly relating to dairy farming, and played an important role in the growth of international farming yields in the austere post-war period. 

The present collection of books, which is by direct family descent from Robert Boutflour’s personal collection, comprises more than a dozen rare and important works, including a 1731 first edition copy of Jethro Tull’s ‘Horse-hoing husbandry’ estimated at £3000-5000 and Reynolde Scot’s ‘Perfite Platforme of a Hoppe Garden’ published in 1578, estimated at £3000-5000.

The collection is completed by the earliest of all written treatises on agriculture: Petrus de Crescentiis - ‘Ruralia Commoda’, published in Augsburg in 1471, it is the first edition of the first printed book on agriculture. Estimated at £60000-80000.