Leaves from Gerard's Herball by Marcus Woodward

Harkness elaborates a story about The Herball that surely underpins such dismissals. Ogilvie twice refers to The Herball as a 'plagiarized translation' he also indexes the magnitude of its 'mistakes' when he names Thomas Johnson, who revised The Herball in 1633, as Gerard's 'tireless corrector.' (3) In an account of late-sixteenth-century London's botanical culture, Deborah E. Ogilvie, for example, barely mentions it in The Science of Describing, his study of Renaissance botany, and, when he does so, it is never to its credit. (1) But in the history of science it is reputed a big failure, suspect in both origins and content. MEDICINE HERBALS BOTANY MEDICINE HERBALS 17TH CENTURY 20TH CENTURY ILLUSTRATED MEDICINE.FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1597/98, John Gerard's Herball, Or Generall Historic of Plantes comprises '1,400-plus folio pages of woodcuts and descriptions.' It is a 'monumental project' in descriptive natural history. Johnson's 1636 edition formed the basis for this selection by Marcus Woodward (d.1940), which has appeared in numerous later editions of the title. It was revised by Thomas Johnson (d.1644 after a wound received at the Siege of Basing House), London apothecary and surgeon in editions of 16.

It has nevertheless remained popular ever since filling the need for a readily accessible herbal in English. His first Herball was published in 1597 and contemporaries were aware that it was partly plagiarised from English translations of Dutch and other sources. The barber-surgeon and herbalist John Gerard (c.1545-1612) had a large garden in Holborn. The first edition of what has become the standard modern simplified text (retaining much of the original spelling) of Gerard's Herbal. Decorated by head and tailpiece vignettes, initials and by printer's colophon. Illustrated by text figures, vignette half title and by title page portrait vignette. Occasional spotting, but otherwise a very good copy. Extremities a little worn, including head and tail of spine, which is sunned with board edges. Bound in original green cloth with gilt block on front board.

Leaves from Gerard's Herball by Marcus Woodward