Gerard, John (1545-1611) The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes

Description:

Gerard, John (1545-1611) The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes. London: Adam Islip, Joice Norton, and Richard Whitakers, 1636.
Folio, third edition, engraved title, 1630 pages; illustrated with hundreds of woodcut illustrations of plants throughout, seventeen woodcuts of plants with careful contemporary hand-coloring; edited, with many additions and amendments, by Thomas Johnson (c. 1600-1644),in contemporary boards, nicely rebacked, front joint slightly cracked, some minor defects to the text, spotting, occasional torn or folded corners, otherwise good, 13 1/4 x 9 in.
Gerard's was the most popular practical guide to plants in the English-speaking world in this period. The exhaustive text includes detailed descriptions of ornamentals, fruit trees, vegetables, ferns, wild plants, and even new world species. All are depicted in excellent woodcut illustrations. Gerard's conversational style enhanced by the textual refinements contributed by Johnson, make this an enduring work that is still informative and enjoyable to read today.
Estimate $1,000-1,500

[para]8, 2[para]6, 3[para]6, A-B8, C-Z6, Aa-Zz6, Aaa-Zzz6, Aaaa-Zzzz6, Aaaaa-Zzzzz6, 5A-5Z6, 6A-6V6, 6Y-6Z6, 7A-7B6. Hand-colored plants on pages 60: iris; 350 nightshade; 377 two anenomes; 444 soapwort; 452 campanula; 476 lysimachia; 477 lysimachia; 539 St. John's wort; 606 sneezewort; 712 agrimony; 719 scabiosa; 727 knapwwed; 817 marsh marigold; 930 field mallow; partial coloring on page 933, marsh mallows; 1043 queen of the meadow.


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