Thomas Short | The first American edition of this herbal, printed by Franklin

Thomas Short

Medicina Britannica: or a Treatise on such Physical Plants, as are Generally Found in the Fields or Gardens in Great-Britain. … With a preface by Mr. John Bartram, Botanist of Pennsylvania, and his notes throughout the work. London Printed: Philadelphia Re-printed, and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall, at the Post-Office, in Market-Street, MDCCLI (1751)

8vo (179 x 109 mm). Woodcut tailpiece ornament (Miller, appendix B, no. 33); light toning, pale spotting, occasional staining, leaf X5 with loss at lower corner restored and supplied in facsimile, a short tear at the top edge of leaves X5 and X6. Recent period-style blind-ruled calf.

The first American edition, third edition overall, of Thomas Short's English herbal, with a preface and expanded text by John Bartram.

The additions to the text include information on "where many of the described plants are to be found in these parts of America, their differences in name, appearance and virtue, from those of the same kind in Europe, and an appendix containing a description of a number of plants particular to America, their uses, Virtues &c."

Only two copies of this work have appeared at auction in the last 100 years, per Rare Book Hub.

REFERENCES

Miller 546; ESTC W3995; Evans 6783; Hildeburn 1240; Sabin 80573