Natural History of Barbados. In Ten Books
by HUGHES, Griffith
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Bryn Mawr,, Pennsylvania, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
1750. HUGHES, Griffith. The Natural History of Barbados. In Ten Books. London: Printed for the Author, and sold by most booksellers in Great Britain and Ireland, 1750. Folio (16 x 10 1/4 inches). 10pp. list of subscribers, 15-line errata printed on verso of final page of preface. 30 engraved plates (12 after G.D. Ehret, others by Mynde, G. Bickham and others), 1 double-page engraved map of the island by T. Jefferys, occasional engraved headpieces (including A Prospect of Bridge-Town in the Island of Barbadoes). Contemporary full double gilt-ruled speckled calf, raised spine bands, compartments ruled in gilt, red morocco spine label. Head of spine chipped, some wear to foot of spine, front outer hinge tender, small amount of faint scattered foxing, else very good. HUNT 536. SABIN 33582. GREAT FLOWER BOOKS (1990), p.104. NISSEN BBI 950. Ripley 140. WOOD 393. Calmann Ehret: Flower Painter extraordinary, p. 67. Large paper copy of the first edition of the most important early botanical and dendrological work on Barbados, with plates by Ehret, among the greatest of all botanical painters. About one-fifth of the 1,000 subscribers received large paper copies. Hughes published The Natural History at his own expense, and writes in a pleasing factual style. He notes in the preface that everything included was either observed by the author himself or "had from Persons of known Veracity." Despite the title, the work is largely devoted to the botany and dendrology of the island. Of the 12 "books" or chapters (not 10 as on the title), 8 are dedicated to trees, shrubs, and plants. The plants are ordered into chapters according to physical appearance: Nuciferous (nut-bearing), Pomiferous (fruit-bearing), Pruniferous (bearing plum-like fruit), etc. Hughes, who was rector of St. Lucy's parish, Barbados, and a fellow of the Royal Society, gives a physical description of each plant, followed by notes on the edibility (or inedibility) of the fruit or nuts and their uses, both commercially and medicinally. Among the most noted descriptions in the book is his account of the "forbidden fruit" of the island, i.e., among the earliest descriptions of the grapefruit. Following p.314 is an interesting 7pp. glossary of "Botanical and Technical Terms" supplied largely by "the accurate Mr. Miller of Chelsea" (presumably Philip Miller, author, foreman o.
Reviews
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- George S. MacManus Company (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 70643
- Title
- Natural History of Barbados. In Ten Books
- Author
- HUGHES, Griffith
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Date Published
- 1750
- Keywords
- CARIBBEAN, NAT HX, BARBADOS, BOTANY, FINE/GEN AM
Terms of Sale
George S. MacManus Company
We accept VS or MC or we will hold for a check. Books may be returned with the original packing slip within 7 days. Domestic Shipping via UPS is $5.00 for 1st volume, $2.50 for each additional volume. International rates given upon request.
About the Seller
George S. MacManus Company
Biblio member since 2005
Bryn Mawr,, Pennsylvania
About George S. MacManus Company
Our inventory of over 45,000 catalogued titles focuses primarily on 18th and 19th century Americana with specialities such as Voyages and Travels, Local Histories, Indians and the West and the Civil War. Also included in our collection are English and American literary first editions, Limited Edition Club selections and Books about Books.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- G
- Good describes the average used and worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted. (as defined by AB...
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
- Verso
- The page bound on the left side of a book, opposite to the recto page.
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Errata
- Errata: aka Errata Slip A piece of paper either laid in to the book correcting errors found in the printed text after being...
- Hinge
- The portion of the book closest to the spine that allows the book to be opened and closed.
- Calf
- Calf or calf hide is a common form of leather binding. Calf binding is naturally a light brown but there are ways to treat the...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Spine Label
- The paper or leather descriptive tag attached to the spine of the book, most commonly providing the title and author of the...