THE GENTLEMAN FARRIER'S REPOSITORY OF ELEGANT AND APPROVED REMEDIES FOR THE DISEASES OF HORSES; IN TWO BOOKS. CONTAINING, I. THE SURGICAL; II. THE MEDICAL PART OF PRACTICAL FARRIERY; ALSO, DIRECTIONS FOR THE PROPER TREATMENT OF POST CHAISE AND OTHER HORSES AFTER VIOLENT EXERCISE, WITH SUITABLE REMARKS ON THE WHOLE. TO WHICH ARE NOW ADDED; OBSERVATIONS ON BROKEN-WINDED HORSES, ENDEAVORING TO PROVE THE SEAT OF THAT MALADY NOT TO BE IN THE LUNGS.

Bartlet, John

Published by Printed and Sold by Joseph Crukshank, Philadelphia, 1775

xii,293,[3]pp. 12mo. Contemporary mottled sheep; spine with raised bands and blindstamped "B" in the second compartment. Worming along joints, corners worn of front pastedown. Small worm track in lower margin of front free endpaper and following twelve leaves, and in gutter of final three leaves. Light tanning and soiling. Previous owner's blindstamp in upper margin of titlepage. About very good. The exceptionally scarce first American edition of English physician John Bartlet's THE GENTLEMAN FARRIER'S REPOSITORY. Printed in Philadelphia in the first year of the Revolutionary War, this edition retains Bartlet's dedication to the Duke of Cumberland, the brother of King George III. John Bartlet was one of the many physicians and surgeons who came forward during the cattle plagues that broke out in 18th-century England to help fill gaps in veterinary knowledge left by less than knowledgeable farriers with little or no training in the biological sciences. Bartlet wrote two major works: THE GENTLEMAN'S FARRIERY in 1753 and the present work in 1764. Rather than being an actual PHARMACOPAEIA, THE GENTLEMAN FARRIER'S REPOSITORY is a work on horse surgery and medicine expanded from Bartlet's earlier work, which itself was a compilation of selected techniques and prescriptions presented in previous farrier manuals. Although Bartlet's manuals were collections of previously published material, they were of great use to the layman as Bartlet was careful to select only those techniques and prescriptions that had actual utility, editing them for accuracy and presenting them in a simplified, easy-to-follow style. In December of 1776, just a year following the publication of THE GENTLEMAN FARRIER'S REPOSITORY, General George Washington issued the order that a farrier be included in the roster for each new regiment of the Continental Army, likely making this first American edition of an easy-to-use farrier's manual a necessity to American forces during the Revolutionary War. The final three pages contain a description of books published and for sale by Joseph Crukshank. Rare Book Hub lists only two copies at auction, in 1915 and 1940, and no copies in the trade since a copy offered by Ken Leach in 1983. An exceptionally scarce and important farrier's manual. EVANS 13826. HILDEBURN 3163. AUSTIN 130. HENDERSON, p.16. ESTC W12341. Seller Inventory # WRCAM62494

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE GENTLEMAN FARRIER'S REPOSITORY OF ...
Publisher: Printed and Sold by Joseph Crukshank, Philadelphia
Publication Date: 1775