OP: The Herbal or General History of Plants
Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1975 [1633]. Hardcover. Very Good.
While John Gerard (1545โ1612) was first trained as a barber-surgeon, his personal London garden, where he grew rare and exotic plants, became his true passion and, in fact, drew a great deal of public attention. In 1597 he published a descriptive catalog of over one thousand species accompanied by woodcut illustrations, which was an exceedingly popular reference, not only in his time but for many years to come.
Twenty years after Gerardโs death, botanist Thomas Johnson revised and expanded the original work to include nearly 3000 entries and almost as many illustrations. We offer here a 1975 facsimile of that edition, at a massive 9โ x 12.5โ and 1600 pages, before the index.
While an astute reader of early modern English may glean useful gardening tips from The Herbal, we might wager that its greatest virtue is in the insights into Elizabethan folklore and medicine. The โdecoction of the leauesโ of the nightshade bittersweet, for example, โis reported to remoue the ลฟtoppings of the liuer and gall; and to be drunke with good ลฟucceลฟลฟe againลฟt the yellow jaundice,โ and, โThe iuyce is good for thoลฟe that haue fallen from high places, and haue beene thereby bruiลฟed, or dry beatenโฆโ
And regarding a certain legume: โThe fruit and cods of Kidney Beanes boiled together before they be ripe, and buttered, and ลฟo eaten with their cods, are exceeding delicate meat, and do not ingender winde as the other Pulลฟes.โ
Ours is in Very Good condition, the jacket worn but intact. Overall, an attractive and enchanting reproduction.ย
