Elizabeth Blackwell, A curious Herbal, Volumes I II
Lot# 3064
(British, 17071758)
A Curious Herbal, the complete set including Volumes III, circa 1737-1739,
2 volumes, folio. Engraved throughout: two engraved title-pages, two dedicatory leaves, one leaf commendation from the Royal College of Physicians, one leaf of Publick Recommendation, two leaves of English index, 2 leaves Catalogus Plantarum., 125 leaves of explanatory text and 500 hand-coloured plates, published London: John Nourse, 1739.
Private Collection of Rare Book Dealers, by familial descent to current owners, Bay Area, CA.
From 1737 to 1739, Elizabeth Blackwell published four plates each week, until she had produced 500 images. To create this masterpiece, Blackwell rented a house opposite the Chelsea Physic Garden, at 4, Swan Walk, at the suggestion of Isaac Reed, in order to draw and engrave the plants there. She created this book to take care of herself and her son and to help get her husband out of debtors prison. Her husband helped by supplying the common names of the plants in various languages. After finishing the drawings Elizabeth engraved them on copper herself, and coloured the 500 prints individually by hand. Initially published in weekly parts, the first volume, which contained commendations from the Royal College of Physicians, was completed in 1737, the second in 1738 or early 1739. The work was an enormous success, and she got her husband out of debtors prison.
Reference: Cleveland Collections 386 Dunthorne 42 Great Flower Books, p.50 Henrey 453 Hunt 510 Lisney 175 and 180 Nissen BBI 168 Pritzel 811 Stafleu Cowan TL2 545. (2)
Estimate: $8000 - $12000