Health's Improvement: Or, Rules Comprizing and Discovering The Nature, Method, and Manner of Preparing all sorts of Food Used in This Nation

London: Tho: Newcomb for Samuel Thomson, 1655. With a Focus on the Nature and Preparation of Food
Rare First Edition of Thomas Moffet's 'Health's Improvement'

MUFFET, Thomas. Health's Improvement: Or, Rules Comprizing and Discovering The Nature, Method, and Manner of Preparing all sorts of Food Used in This Nation. Written by that ever famous Thomas Muffett, Doctor in Physick: Corrected and Enlarged by Christopher Bennet, Doctor in Physick, and Fellow of the College of Physicians in London. London: Tho: Newcomb for Samuel Thomson, 1655.

First edition with the spelling 'Muffet' on title-page.

Small quarto ( 7 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches; 185 x 140 mm.). [viii, including Imprimatur leaf], 296 pp. Residue of early red ink signature on lower blank margin of title-page, some occasional very light water staining (most prominent on imprimatur leaf) and some very occasional light marginal foxing, otherwise a very fresh copy.

Seventeenth century calf, covers ruled in blind, rebacked. Smooth spine ruled in blind and lettered in gilt. An excellent example of a very scarce book.

We have only been able to locate two examples auction. The last was in 2015 (Sotheby's NY) , 2015; & then previously in 1984 (BBA, London).

Thomas Moffet (aka Muffett, 1553-1604) was an English naturalist and physician. He is best known his study of insects and arthropods in regard to medicine (particularly spiders), his support of the Paracelsian system of medicine, and his emphasis on the importance of experience over reputation in the field of medicine. He was an Anti-papist due to his Puritan beliefs. Descriptions of tame and wild animals, fish and fowl include entertaining digressions as nearly every possibility seems to be described. Hares, hedgehogs, squirrels, lobster, oysters, frog, and snails as well as exotic fruits and vegetables and spices enter the discussion. Bread making and sauces also seem to have been areas of special interest to him.

Published posthumously from a ca. 1590 manuscript, Moffet's work in nutrition appeared in Health's Improvement which reflect his perspective on the preparation of various foods and their impact on health, was designed more for the layman than for contemporary medical professionals. It contains the first list of British wildfowl, recognizing for the first time the migratory habits of many of them. Given its focus on the nature and preparation of food, "Health's Improvement" is situated within a broader tradition of early modern writings on dietetics and culinary practices. These works often aimed to provide practical advice for a healthy life based on the understanding of food and its effects on the body.

References: Andre L. Simon, Bibliotheca Gastronomica, page 103, No. 1063; Arnold W. Oxford, English Cookery Books to the Year 1850, page 27; G. Vicaire, Bibliographie Gastronomique, page 613; Catalogue of the Wellcome Medical Library, Volume 4, page 148, under Moffet; Sotheby's, The Collection of Robert S. Pirie, part 2, page 99, Lot No. 593; ESTC R202888; Wing M2383; Bitting, Cagle & Maclean all listing later editions.