Beschreibung
Second edition, revised. Folio. (xxxviii), 30, 29-30, 29-1630, [1631-32], (46) pp, bound without the front and rear blanks. Eighteenth century blindstamped reversed calf, spine rebacked to style and the original gilt lettered red label preserved, late 19th century book label of S.L. Nussey of Potternewton Hall to the front pastedown and their inscription to the verso of the title page, mid-eighteenth century ownership inscription of a John Gill to the same page quoting the price he paid for the binding, the likely slightly later inscription of a George Gill dated 1774 to the rear pastedown, a handful of pages with brief early handwritten annotations. Fine engraved title page, head and tail pieces, and over 2,700 woodcuts of plants, a quarter of pp. 491-2 wanting and sometime replaced in facsmile. Title page laid down with slight marginal loss to the upper edge, foot and fore edge shaved close but the engraved area essentially complete, occasional browning, small ink blot to pp. 820-21, pp. 909-12 on a lighter paper stock, possibly supplied from another copy of the same edition, the illustration on p.912 with a hint of old colour, blotchiness to page 1103, decreasingly so on the adjacent leaves, slight marginal loss to pp. 1461-2 and 1473-76, the five leaves featuring the "Table of English Names" browner and more fragile than the other rear index leaves, final leaf with marginal repairs, a few scuffs and marks to the covers, a decent copy overall. A surgeon by trade, Gerard also had charge of several important gardens, including that of Lord Burghley and of the newly founded College of Physicians. His Herbal, which was first published in 1597, remains one of the most famous English Natural History books and became a standard work for botanists for centuries. Relying on several other contemporary sources it is not without errors, many of which were corrected by Thomas Johnson, a London apothecary, for the second edition of 1633, of which this is a revised issue. "Gerard contributed greatly towards the advancement of the knowledge of plants in England. [he] wrote about plants largely for their medicinal qualities, but also drew attention to their decorative value. He paid attention to plants as a source of food. Above all this herbalist knew how to write, and while much has been been written of his faults as a botanist, of the charm of the writings there can be little dispute" (Henrey). ESTC, S122175. Henrey, I, 156, pp.36-54. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 44094
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