Botany.- [Blackwell (Elizabeth)] [A Curious Herbal...], vol. 1 only (of 2), lacking title, engraved throughout, 252 engraved plates (all un-coloured), and 63 engraved text ff., some manuscript inscriptions to plate versos at rear, 1 with large closed tear, final gathering loose (plate 241 onwards) with final plate torn away at corner (corner adhering to stitching, majority of plate loose), single index f. loose, a few plates with small tears, and a few creased at beginning, some soiling and toning, mainly marginal, near contemporary cloth, text block detached, worn and soiled, [Great Flower Books, p. 50; Hunt 510; Nissen BBI 168], folio, [for Samuel Harding], [1737-39]; [sold not subject to return].

⁂ The first herbal published by a woman. "Elizabeth Blackwell prepared A Curious Herbal, at the suggestion of Hans Sloane, as a means of getting her husband, Dr. Alexander Blackwell, out of debtor's prison. [...] This, with Martyn and Catesby, is one of the early flower books published in parts. Each numbered leaf was issued with the four plates described on it, at the rate of one a week for 125 weeks. Beginning in 1737, the parts continued into 1739. Hand-coloured parts sold for two shillings, ordinary parts for one" (Hunt).