A NATURAL HISTORY OF IRELAND, IN THREE PARTS

Dublin, Ireland: Geo. and Alex. Ewing at the Angel and Bible in Dames-Street, 1755. Second Edition. Leather-bound. VERY GOOD. Quarto. 8.9 in. x 6.8 in., pp. iv, [4] (Contents), 213. Contiguous pagination through all three parts. Illustrated with eleven full page engravings, nine of which foldout. Cambridge panelled calf, rebacked, ruled and tooled in blind, with corner fleurons. Gilt title on red panel, gilt designs on all other panels, and five-raised bands. Newer endpapers. No half title page. Original plate opposite p. 212 is torn, with significant portion missing. Two fascimile copies of this damaged plate, one bound (opposite p. 213), and one laid-in, included. Unmarked, bright interior.

Three works in one volume, title page listing names of Gerard Boate (Doctor of Physick to the State in Ireland) and Thomas Molyneux (M.D.F.R.S. in England) as authors of the first and third Parts, and a collection of authors for the second book, including William King, Lord Bishop of Clogher, William Molyneux, Francis Nevil and many others, including one Dr. Hook who contributes "An Inundation in Ireland."
PART I: THE NATURAL HISTORY OF IRELAND, dated 1755, comprises pp 1-102. Published by Geo. and Alex. Ewing.
PART II: A COLLECTION OF SUCH PAPERS AS WERE COMMUNICATED TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY, REFERRING TO SOME CURIOSITIES IN IRELAND comprises pp. 103-186. Published by George Grierson, dated 1726.
PART III: A DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE DANISH MOUNTS, FORTS, AND TOWERS IN IRELAND comprises pp. 189-213. Published by George Grierson, dated 1725. Boate's tome was first published in 1652, reissued in 1657, Title page continues: Part 1: being a True and Ample Description of its Situation, Greatness, Shape, and Nature; Of its Hills, Woods, Heaths, Bogs; Of its fruitful Parts and profitable Grounds, with the several ways of manuring and improving the same: With its Heads or Promontories, Harbours, Roads and Bays; Of its Springs and Fountains, Brooks, Rivers, Loughs; Of its Metals, Minerals, Freestone, Marble, Sea-coal, Turf, and other Things that are taken out of the Ground. And lastly, of the Nature and Temperature of its Air and Season, and what Diseases it is free from, or subject unto. Conducing to the Advancemant of Navigation, Husbandry, and other profiable arts and professions.

2: A Collection of such Papers as were Communicated to the Royal Society, Referring to some Curiosities in Ireland, featuring a fine publisher's device of floral crown;

3: A Discourse concerning the Danish Mounts, Forts and Towers in Ireland. Extensive bibliographic entry inserted by previous owner notes that Gerard Boate (1604-1650) was Dutch by birth, English by residence, and aimed his contribution to benefit adventurers and planters in transit to Erin, and that his brother Aaron, a noted scholar of Hebrew, provided much of the natural history here. Of the many "papers" in the second Part, six were by Thomas Molyneux, also Professor of Physick, and physician to both army and navy, brother to the more famous William, a philosopher. Molyneux's contribution in full displays his range of interests in Irish history and antiquaries. Articles range from those about bogs and agriculture to leprosy and pleurisy, showing growing interest in the new sciences of medicine and geology, metallurgy and mining, food preparation and preservation.