OP: The Herbal or General History of Plants

Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1975 [1633]. Hardcover. Very Good.

While John Gerard (1545–1612) 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 Gerard’s 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 9” x 12.5” 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 “decoction of the leaues” of the nightshade bittersweet, for example, “is reported to remoue the ſtoppings of the liuer and gall; and to be drunke with good ſucceſſe againſt the yellow jaundice,” and, “The iuyce is good for thoſe that haue fallen from high places, and haue beene thereby bruiſed, or dry beaten…”

And regarding a certain legume: “The fruit and cods of Kidney Beanes boiled together before they be ripe, and buttered, and ſo eaten with their cods, are exceeding delicate meat, and do not ingender winde as the other Pulſes.”

Ours is in Very Good condition, the jacket worn but intact. Overall, an attractive and enchanting reproduction.