Lot 31124: John Gerard's The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes - Numerous Woodcut Botanical Illustrations

This fine volume of botanical woodcuts is John Gerard's The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes. The title page is absent, but it is believed to be the first edition published in 1597 by John Norton in London. Gerard's Herball is considered the most famous of all English herbals, attaining great success and influence through the 18th century. The paper is considered folio size and it featured numerous illustrations but also commentary and anecdotes about many of the plant species. The work featured 800 species of plants and more than 2500 woodcuts including the introduction of 182 flowering plants not previously published.

John Gerard (1545-1612) was trained as a barber-surgeon. He worked as the superintendend of William Cecil, Lord Burghley's gardens. He was also the curator of the Physic Garden at the College of Physicians. He also maintained his own garden in which he grew the first potato in England. His Herball was also the first to illustrate and depict the potato in English. He received the potato to grow likely from Clusius, though he mistakenly believed it native to North America and called it the Virginian Potato, and the sweet potato he simply called potato.

Paper Size ~ 8 1/2" by 12 3/4"

~ 8 1/2" by 12 3/4"

Numerous Woodcut Engravings within the text, uncollated but believed complete

c1597

The work is in generally very good condition. Some of the plates are loosened from the spine. The title page is absent from the volume. The pages are not collated, but it is believed complete. The pages exhibit some bleed through which is normal with this work. There may be some general wear or imperfections from age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes