John Gerard Edited Marcus Woodward (1 results)

Condition: UNSPECIFIED. FIRST EDITION THUS. 4to. 10.25 x 8 inches. xix + [i] + 303 + [1] pp. Bound in original green cloth with gilt block on front board. Extremities a little worn, including head and tail of spine, which is sunned with board edges. Occasional spotting, but otherwise a very good copy. Illustrated by text figures, vignette half title and by title page portrait vignette. Decorated by head and tailpiece vignettes, initials and by printer's colophon. The first edition of what has become the standard modern simplified text (retaining much of the original spelling) of Gerard's Herbal. The barber-surgeon and herbalist John Gerard (c.1545-1612) had a large garden in Holborn. His first Herball was published in 1597 and contemporaries were aware that it was partly plagiarised from English translations of Dutch and other sources. It has nevertheless remained popular ever since filling the need for a readily accessible herbal in English. It was revised by Thomas Johnson (d.1644 after a wound received at the Siege of Basing House), London apothecary and surgeon in editions of 1633 and 1636. Johnson's 1636 edition formed the basis for this selection by Marcus Woodward (d.1940), which has appeared in numerous later editions of the title. MEDICINE HERBALS BOTANY MEDICINE HERBALS 17TH CENTURY 20TH CENTURY ILLUSTRATED MEDICINE.