Milestones of Science Books

[ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF LONDON].

Pharmacopoeia Collegii Regalis Londini.

London: typis Tho. Newcomb, prostant venales apud Joh. Martyn, Joh. Starkey, Tho. Basset, Joh. Wright, Ric. Chiswel, & Rob. Bowlter, 1677.

1st Edition. Hardcover. Folio - over 12 - 15" tall. Very Good. Item #002991

Folio (311 x 193 mm). [18], 208, [6] pp., including letterpress title with large coat of arms woodcut device of the Royal College, engraved additional title-page showing the Theatrum Cutlerianum, 1 double-page engraved plate showing the Royal College of Physicians, signed by David Logan, and a general index bound at end. Text leaves C1 (p.5/6) and D1 (p.11/12) of the catalogus simplicum replaced each by a blank leaf at the time of binding. Contemporary calf with some blind ruling (rubbed and worn, joints repaired), red-dyed edges. Text and plates generally crisp and clean, light mainly marginal browning, very minor occasional spotting, ink spots to letterpress title, clean tear without loss to leaf a2. Provenance: two loosely inserted sheets with manuscript notes, one dated April 1731 and inscribed 'Thomas Clamp,' and the other, with recipe, dated July 12, 1756 and signed 'M. Bould.' Except for the missing text leaves which were never bound in, a fine and well-margined copy. ----

Wing R2105. - FIRST EDITION under this title according to Wing. "The Pharmacopoeia of the Royal College of Physicians represents the first attempt at an official list of drugs and medicines for common usage, selected chiefly from the works of Mesue and Nicholas of Salerno. The first edition of 1618 was found to be so full of errors that the whole edition was suppressed and a fresh edition published the following December. Thereafter it remained substantially unchanged except for minor corrections and additions until the edition of 1721 published under the auspices of Sir Henry Sloane, when many important alterations were made. Hardly ever do the early editions appear on the market and only a handful of copies are known to exist, mainly in English institutional libraries ... Especially rare if found with the stunning large, double-page view of the Royal College of Physicians, designed and engraved by the Danzig-born David Loggan, engraver to the University of Oxford, the celebrated artist and author of 'Oxonia Illustrata.' (Lathrop Harper, Cat. 1964). - Visit our website for additional images and information.

Price: 1,500 €  *  convert currency