Folio Archives 48: Tractatus de Herbis limited edition 2003
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1wcarter
Tractatus de Herbis British Library Egerton MS 747 Folio Society Limited Edition 2003
Gorgeous!!
That is the only description you can give to this magnificent Folio Society limited edition facsimile. It consists of two volumes, the 109 page facsimile (36.5x24.5cm.) and the 76 page commentary volume (22.7x16cm.), together in a dark green buckram cloth Solander box (40x27.5cm.). The limitation is 1000 and my copy is number 937.
This facsimile was reproduced through digital photography by Laurence Pordes, printed at The Bath Press, Glasgow on Phoenix Motion Xenon paper (which mimics the original vellum), and was bound by Smith Settle of Otley in full goatskin leather with leather onlays, over bevelled boards, blocked with a design by David Eccles, with handmade laid green paper endleaves from the Fabriano mill. All edges gilt and there is a green page marker ribbon. There is no title page as such in the facsimile, as the original did not have one, only a colophon page at the back of the book.
The commentary volume is written by Minta Collins & Sandra Raphael and as well as giving a background to the manuscript, describes each plate. It is quarter bound in green buckram over green paper covered boards, with a printed paper label on the upper board.
The original manuscript was produced around AD1300 in southern Italy.
In the Middle Ages, medicine was undoubtedly the scientific realm influenced most by the many cultural elements that contributed to shaping society. Its Greek foundations were added to by Latin, Byzantine, Arabic and Mozarabic contributions and others from further afield that were transmitted by cultures bordering on the western world. As a result, each medicinal plant had as many names as the cultures using it to make remedies.
The variety of names used for a single plant in different cultures sometimes led to confusion. To avoid this risk, dictionaries were produced and botanical albums too, featuring pictures of the plants and other simples used in everyday therapeutic practices together with the various names they were called by the different peoples that comprised medieval society.
This is one such book enabling the different names of these plants to be linked to the plants themselves. This helped avoid confusion and the disastrous consequences of giving a patient a simple other than the one prescribed by the physician.
Now you can vicariously enjoy the book through the following photos.
. . . . . 
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Gorgeous!!
That is the only description you can give to this magnificent Folio Society limited edition facsimile. It consists of two volumes, the 109 page facsimile (36.5x24.5cm.) and the 76 page commentary volume (22.7x16cm.), together in a dark green buckram cloth Solander box (40x27.5cm.). The limitation is 1000 and my copy is number 937.
This facsimile was reproduced through digital photography by Laurence Pordes, printed at The Bath Press, Glasgow on Phoenix Motion Xenon paper (which mimics the original vellum), and was bound by Smith Settle of Otley in full goatskin leather with leather onlays, over bevelled boards, blocked with a design by David Eccles, with handmade laid green paper endleaves from the Fabriano mill. All edges gilt and there is a green page marker ribbon. There is no title page as such in the facsimile, as the original did not have one, only a colophon page at the back of the book.
The commentary volume is written by Minta Collins & Sandra Raphael and as well as giving a background to the manuscript, describes each plate. It is quarter bound in green buckram over green paper covered boards, with a printed paper label on the upper board.
The original manuscript was produced around AD1300 in southern Italy.
In the Middle Ages, medicine was undoubtedly the scientific realm influenced most by the many cultural elements that contributed to shaping society. Its Greek foundations were added to by Latin, Byzantine, Arabic and Mozarabic contributions and others from further afield that were transmitted by cultures bordering on the western world. As a result, each medicinal plant had as many names as the cultures using it to make remedies.
The variety of names used for a single plant in different cultures sometimes led to confusion. To avoid this risk, dictionaries were produced and botanical albums too, featuring pictures of the plants and other simples used in everyday therapeutic practices together with the various names they were called by the different peoples that comprised medieval society.
This is one such book enabling the different names of these plants to be linked to the plants themselves. This helped avoid confusion and the disastrous consequences of giving a patient a simple other than the one prescribed by the physician.
Now you can vicariously enjoy the book through the following photos.
. . . . . An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2folio_books
>1 wcarter: Gorgeous!!
Absolutely agreed. It's a joy to behold and a pleasure to handle. The binding is sumptuous.
Heretical aside: In my less serious moments I have thought of it as the medieval Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady ...
Absolutely agreed. It's a joy to behold and a pleasure to handle. The binding is sumptuous.
Heretical aside: In my less serious moments I have thought of it as the medieval Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady ...
3Firumbras
>3 Firumbras:
Oddly enough I was pricing this yesterday and was about to ask devotees for any photos. A prescient and most welcome posting! Thank you.
Oddly enough I was pricing this yesterday and was about to ask devotees for any photos. A prescient and most welcome posting! Thank you.
4wcarter
This magnificent book was reviewed by me six years ago in an early edition of the Folio Archives.
It comes from the golden age of Folio Society facsimiles and limited editions when under the direction of Joe Whitlock-Blundell.
Over the last six years my book photography skills have improved, and I felt the original pictures were inadequate to display this book's true beauty.
I have therefore prepared a new set of photos. The text is unchanged.
Now go to >1 wcarter: and enjoy the updated review.
It comes from the golden age of Folio Society facsimiles and limited editions when under the direction of Joe Whitlock-Blundell.
Over the last six years my book photography skills have improved, and I felt the original pictures were inadequate to display this book's true beauty.
I have therefore prepared a new set of photos. The text is unchanged.
Now go to >1 wcarter: and enjoy the updated review.
7astropi
I personally find works like this far more exciting than the vast majority of the LEs they have released the past few years. Of course this is not something that would sell out quickly, but it's unique -- there was a time when I felt that just about every FS LE was "unique" in some way. I bet the commentary volume is just fascinating!
ps wcarter, if you have not done so, please do a pictorial review of Night Thoughts -- I remember how expensive that was when released, but also magnificent. As far as I know, to this day, it's still the only full color reproduction of the work!
ps wcarter, if you have not done so, please do a pictorial review of Night Thoughts -- I remember how expensive that was when released, but also magnificent. As far as I know, to this day, it's still the only full color reproduction of the work!
9SF-72
>7 astropi:
I completely agree with the uniqueness. Some of the current LEs are nice enough, but in the end not off the beaten track and others often do it better (Conversation Tree Press comes to mind). These were something you could usually only get from FS, and that in excellent quality and at a very decent price for what you got. I really treasure those older LEs.
I completely agree with the uniqueness. Some of the current LEs are nice enough, but in the end not off the beaten track and others often do it better (Conversation Tree Press comes to mind). These were something you could usually only get from FS, and that in excellent quality and at a very decent price for what you got. I really treasure those older LEs.
