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Blackwell (Elizabeth) A Curious Herbal, 1738.

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2 vol., first edition, engraved throughout, 500 hand-coloured engraved plates, offsetting, vol.1 plate 153 ink stained at lower margin, vol.2 plates 389-399 lightly damp-stained, mostly marginal, plates 484-490 small stain to upper margin, both vol. occasional light damp-staining or spotting, but generally in very good condition, contemporary diced russia with the gilt arms of The Rt. Hon Sir James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury to covers and his monograms to heads of spines, skilfully rebacked, preserving original backstrips, spines in compartments with gilt monogram at head of each and gilt decorations to each compartment, including anchor motifs, some slight crackling to heads, gilt slightly dulled on spines, slightly rubbed, [Dunthorne 42; Nissen 168; Pritzel 811; Great Flower Books p.75], folio, for John Nourse, 1738

***A handsome copy of the first Herbal to be illustrated by a woman. Elizabeth Blackwell's husband, Dr. Alexander Blackwell, abandoned a medical career to become a printer. He was starting to successfully establish himself, but was ruined by rival printers who resented the fact that he had never been apprenticed to their trade. Alexander was sent to a debtor's prison, but Elizabeth was soon to come to his rescue. Elizabeth appealed for help from Sir Hans Sloane. He suggested to her that there was a market for a Herbal of medicinal plants and that it should make enough money to secure her husband's release. She embarked upon the illustration work with help on the text from her incarcerated husband. The funds from the publishing of the work between 1737 to 1759 secured Alexander's release. Sadly, a while later in Sweden Alexander was accused of treason and was executed. Provenance: The Rt. Hon Sir James Harris, 1st Earl of Malmesbury. He was one of the leading diplomats of his day and was awarded the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle, which appears on his coat of arms..

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