1812 · Bungay
by (HERBALS, ENGLISH). HILL, SIR JOHN
Bungay: C. Brightly and Co. and T. Kinnersley, 1812. Sixth Edition. 215 x 133 mm. (8 1/2 x 5 1/4"). viii, xl, 376 pp.
Sympathetic light speckled half calf over marbled paper boards, raised bands, red and black morocco labels. With 54 hand-colored plates, including frontispiece, illustrating plants discussed in the text. A couple of ink corrections in a contemporary hand. Johnston 760. â—†Variable foxing, with perhaps a fourth of the text noticeably foxed, but the plates almost entirely unaffected, a few stains to the gutter from pressed flowers (now absent), other trivial defects, but a perfectly readable copy, with quite attractive plates, in a pleasing, virtually unworn retrospective binding.
First published as "The Useful Family Herbal," in 1764, this popular work provides a description of British plants helpful for at-home remedies. The highlight of the volume is the well-drawn and richly colored plates, which Nissen tells us were drawn by the important natural history illustrator Sydenham Edwards (1769-1819), whose work DNB describes as "among the best scientific illustrations of the day." Hill (1716?-75) was a perplexingly self-destructive personality who nevertheless managed to produce useful books. He was a surgeon, an unsuccessful actor, and an apothecary who made considerable money selling quack medicines; he published several books (including some botanical works of substantial value like the present one) and a steady series of (usually abusive) periodicals; he was constantly scheming to make money and to raise his reputation above its rightful altitude; and he was always embroiled in controversies because of his ungovernable proclivity toward impertinence and derision as well as his overweening vanity. This last quality, together with Hill's direct attacks on Garrick and his friends, prompted the latter's memorable epigram reflecting the doctor/actor's reputation among his detractors: "For physic and farces, his equal there scarce is:/ His farces are physic, his physic a farce is." After publishing some not insignificant scientific writings, including a supplement to Chambers' "Dictionary," Hill tried to obtain admission to the Royal Society, but his unprincipled character blocked any hope of membership. Despite his reputation, "The Family Herbal," offered here in its sixth edition, was obviously viewed as serious and significant enough to be reprinted a half century (and later) after its first appearance.. (Inventory #: ST19567-094)
Sympathetic light speckled half calf over marbled paper boards, raised bands, red and black morocco labels. With 54 hand-colored plates, including frontispiece, illustrating plants discussed in the text. A couple of ink corrections in a contemporary hand. Johnston 760. â—†Variable foxing, with perhaps a fourth of the text noticeably foxed, but the plates almost entirely unaffected, a few stains to the gutter from pressed flowers (now absent), other trivial defects, but a perfectly readable copy, with quite attractive plates, in a pleasing, virtually unworn retrospective binding.
First published as "The Useful Family Herbal," in 1764, this popular work provides a description of British plants helpful for at-home remedies. The highlight of the volume is the well-drawn and richly colored plates, which Nissen tells us were drawn by the important natural history illustrator Sydenham Edwards (1769-1819), whose work DNB describes as "among the best scientific illustrations of the day." Hill (1716?-75) was a perplexingly self-destructive personality who nevertheless managed to produce useful books. He was a surgeon, an unsuccessful actor, and an apothecary who made considerable money selling quack medicines; he published several books (including some botanical works of substantial value like the present one) and a steady series of (usually abusive) periodicals; he was constantly scheming to make money and to raise his reputation above its rightful altitude; and he was always embroiled in controversies because of his ungovernable proclivity toward impertinence and derision as well as his overweening vanity. This last quality, together with Hill's direct attacks on Garrick and his friends, prompted the latter's memorable epigram reflecting the doctor/actor's reputation among his detractors: "For physic and farces, his equal there scarce is:/ His farces are physic, his physic a farce is." After publishing some not insignificant scientific writings, including a supplement to Chambers' "Dictionary," Hill tried to obtain admission to the Royal Society, but his unprincipled character blocked any hope of membership. Despite his reputation, "The Family Herbal," offered here in its sixth edition, was obviously viewed as serious and significant enough to be reprinted a half century (and later) after its first appearance.. (Inventory #: ST19567-094)
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