Chinese Peony, Garden Peony 'Mrs. John M. Lewis'

Per the 1928 Lee R. Bonnewitz Iris and Peony catalog of Van Wert, Ohio:
MRS. JOHN M. LEWIS (Lewis). A semi-double, very deep red P...Read Moreeony with waxy petals. Similar in color to MME. GAUDICHAU. A very good landscape variety. Slightly darker than, and not quite as large blooms as MARY BRAND. Its usefulness will be as a landscape variety. $3.00

Per the APS website:
MRS. JOHN M. LEWIS (Lewis, 1920) - Double - Red - Midseason. Medium tall. Faintly sweet scented. Medium size. Dark crimson with blackish sheen, very symmetrical form expanding to big, globular flowers. Robust habit; fairly floriferous; twisted upright stems. Foliage broad, leathery, and dark. When good it is excellent, but frequently it is weak in the collar and irregular. The color is very clean, lacking the objectionable blue tint, although there are lavender streaks on the midrib at the back of each petal.