Herbals, 18th cent.

Herbal containing water-colour illustrations of plants, herbs, trees, fruit, animals, etc. With index, but no text. On the first leaf is a decorative panel in colour for a title, which has not been completed, on the second leaf an ornate architectural frontispiece and on the eleventh leaf a full page illustration of an ornamental garden with vista; Ff. 167-169, each contain a pleasing landscape. The illustrations-which are mostly 4 to a page-are probably drawn and coloured from life. The names of the plants, etc. are given in Latin, but in a few cases the Italian equivalent is also added: the index also is occasionally bilingual. Ff. 156-165 contain illustrations of animals, including some mythical specimens-dragon, basilisk, etc. Produced in Naples?

mid-18th century

1 volume 11 ll. + 170 ff. folio. 311/2 × 211/2 cm. Original panelled gilt stamped calf binding over wooden boards. Ff. 70, 85, 129, 146, 166 are wanting.

Purchased 1928.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).