William Langham | The Garden of Health, 1579 [i.e. 1597], first edition of an early guide to herbal remedies

William Langham

The Garden of Health, Conteyning the sundry rare and hidden vertues and properties of all kindes of Simples and Plantes, together with the maner how they are to be used and applyed in medicine for the health of mans body, against divers diseases and infirmities most common amongst men. London: [Deputies of Christopher Barker], 1579 [i.e. 1597]

FIRST EDITION, 4to (184 x 128 mm), title-page with date of publication corrected in ink to 1597 in a contemporary hand, woodcut initial and headpiece, modern black morocco, housed in modern quarter morocco slipcase, dampstaining, some modern annotations in ballpoint pen, sold not subject to return

First edition of this early, and exhaustive, guide to herbal remedies. The text includes an index of "simples" (from abhorring meat to preserving youth) with the herbs used to cure them.

PROVENANCE:

"Theophilus Coxe": contemporary ownership inscription to title

LITERATURE:

ESTC S108214 ("Some copies have the date changed in MS. to 1597, others to 1598"); NLM/Durling; Wellcome I, p.36