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Elizabeth Blackwell
Piper Indicum. Spanish Pepper.

1739

About the Item

ELIZABETH BLACKWELL (1707-1758) A Curious Herbal containing Five Hundred Cuts, of the most useful Plants, which are now used in the practice of Physick. London, 1739. Copper engravings with original hand coloring. Drawn, engraved and colored by Blackwell. 500 plates. 9" x 14 1/4" Paper size. A Curious Herbal is one of the first English botanical books to be issued in parts and one of the first with plates hand coloured at the time of publication. Elizabeth Blackwell undertook the publication of her herbal at the suggestion of Sir Hans Sloane in order to ransom her husband from debtor's prison, where ironically he was serving time after suffering great financial ruin in the printing business.. She took lodgings near the Chelsea Physic Garden where she drew and engraved the plants growing therein. Enjoying both and English and German printings, the book was widely received in both countries and was, by all accounts, not only an horticultural success but a profitable commercial enterprise as well. Thus, Mrs. Blackwell succeeded in freeing her husband. Alas, this was to no avail; not long afterwards, for the part he played in a political assassination plot, her husband was summarily beheaded. References: Art of the Plant World. Rix. Overlook Press, NY, 1982 Great Flower Books: 1700-1900. Sitwell. Atlantic Monthly Press. NY, 1990.
  • Creator:
    Elizabeth Blackwell (1707 - 1758, British)
  • Creation Year:
    1739
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)Width: 21.5 in (54.61 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Clean crisp image. Beautiful original hand-coloring. Even toning in margins. Framed to museum specifications using archival matting, backing, hinging. Glazed with ultra-violet filtering Plexiglas.
  • Gallery Location:
    Florham Park, NJ
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 2015 05-27-151stDibs: LU652408172
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