LISTER : HERBALS AND ANCIENT BOOKS ON BOTANY. 287
genant der gart der gesundheit. Colophon: "Gertruckt und
flyszlicllen besehen mit meer figuren artlicher gesetzt durch
Reriatum Beck, biichtrucker ziim Thiergarten Burger zii Strasz-
burg, Geendet uff mit fasten [=mid-Lent]. In dem jar da man
zalt nach der geburt Christi 1515.
Small folio. Begins "Oft und vil hab ich . . ." The
first edition was published at Maintz, 1485.
The woodcuts are reduced and rather coarse copies of the
fine full-page illustrations of the first edition, and present not
only plants, but also scenes of every-day life, which are very
quaintly rendered. The originator of the book seems to have
been a rich man, who travelled in the East collecting plants,
accompanied by an artist. The medical part was compiled
by a physician (probably Dr. Johann von Cube, town physician
of Frankfort, at the end of the 15th century).
[Lent by Miss Willmott]
"The Great Herball,
which giveth parfyte knowledge & understanding of all manner
of herbes. . . ." Colophon: Imprynted at London in
Paules churchyarde, at the signe of the Swanne, by Jhon Kynge.
In the yeare of our Lorde God, 1561.
Small folio.
The first edition appeared in 1526, and was a translation
from ''Le Grant Herbier" (in French), which, again, was de-
rived from a Latin MS. of the 15th century, found in the
Biblioteca Estense, at Modena, Italy. It was illustrated with
woodcuts, degraded copies of the series which first appeared
in The German Herbarius. The present edition is not illus-
trated. The plants are arranged alphabetically according to
their Latin names. The Great Herbal and Banckes' Herbal
(published a year earlier, 1525) are the earliest English herbals.
[Lent by Miss Willmott]
"A Boke of the Properties of Herbes,
called an herball, wherunto is added the time ye Herbes, Floures,
and Sedes shodd be gathered, to be kept the whole yere, with
the Vertue of ye Herbes when they are stilled. Also a general
rule of al maner of Herbes drawen out of an auncient boke
of Phisyck by W.C." Colophon: Imprinted at London by John
Kunge, for Abraham Wele. Small octavo.
Not dated. The woodcut at the foot of the title page and