$4,880
Frankfurt: N. Bassaeus, 1588-1591. First edition of Jacob Tabermontanus' encyclopedic An attempt at a universal overview of all the known European flora, it was the most widely disseminated of the German herbals of its time. The illustrations, accomplished by an unknown artist, were acquired later by John Norton for use in the first edition of Gerard's herbal. Tabernaemontanus gives significant weight to the pharmacological aspects of the plants he describes. He maintained the principle that Providence causes certain plants to grow in a region that are beneficial for the diseases that arise in it; a principle that still has followers today. He lived to see only the first part of his herbal published, in 1588. Numerous editions were published in Germany adding the last two portions of the work. Slight restoration to fore edge and lower corner on first and last few pages vol. 1; vol. 1 repairs to larger portion of lower right corner on pp. 131 and 701 with some loss to text, extensive tear on pp. 685 and 797 repaired; front endpapers of vol. 2 renewed, vol. 1 repaired; hinges of binding repaired, some soiling and scuffing to leather; spines partially repaired with portion starting to detach on vol. 2; toning to pages, some loss at fore edges; some small marginal tears; minor staining to a few pages; otherwise fine.
Auctioneer:
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
Date:
2011-04-05