07-20-201807-21-2018
Skinner Auctions
Skinner AuctionsBoston MA
3117BBoston
July 20, 2018 12:00 PMCalender
172

The Great Herball Newly Corrected.

Sell one like this
$46,125$37,500
Auction: Books & Manuscripts - 3117BLocation: BostonDate / Time: July 20, 2018 12:00PM

Description:

The Great Herball Newly Corrected. London: Thome Gybson, 1539. Folio, title page printed within elaborate architectural woodcut compartment, rare, ESTC lists three U.S. copies; the last copy offered at auction was incomplete and sold in 1949; bound in full blind-tooled calf over bevelled boards, with the original leather covering used as pastedown linings, free endleaves are parchment (binding somewhat dry, rubbed),a.e.g.; ex libris Christopher William Beaumont Pease, with his bookplate, with an additional Pease family bookplate done in gilt stamping with the motto "Pax et Spes" inserted, 10 1/2 x 7 1/4 in.

This work is the fourth printed English translation of the Circa Instans, a popular Medieval herbal which circulated in manuscript form before the advent of printing. "The success of the Circa Instans resulted from its pragmatic, user-friendly structure, which made it especially useful to medical practitioners. The collection provides a selection of about 270 natural substances derived from plants, animals and minerals. Plants are the most consistently represented category, with everyday, readily available substances appearing more frequently than rare or exotic ones. The text is structured in alphabetical order, regardless of whether the substance is mineral, vegetal or animal in origin. This alphabetical organisation made it easier to search for a specific item within the text." (Quoted from a blog post by Dr. Iolanda Ventura posted on the Wellcome Library's website: http://blog.wellcomelibrary.org/2017/02/a-medieval-medical-bestseller-the-circa-instans/)

[pi]4, A-Z4, Aa-Bb4, Cc6.
http://estc.bl.uk/S119819
Estimate $25,000-35,000

Binding rubbed, spine sunned to a warmer color, some surface abrasions, binding structurally functional; contents leaves washed and pressed; some leaves with faint printing, leaves evenly toned throughout, some minor occasional spotting, a few holes in last index leaf very neatly filled with losses to only a letter or two. Former owner's or bookseller's note on ffep, "This is the best edition of this very rare book. It is so scarce like all the books printed by Gibson that Dibdin could add nothing to Herbert's description in the Typographical Curiosities. It is mentioned by him that Herbert had never possessed a single volume from Gibson's press."


The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

Keywords

wellcome, Iolanda Ventura, London, United States