TWO 18TH CENTURY JOHN HILL BOTANICAL ENGRAVINGS, THE BRITISH HERBAL,Published London, T. Osborne. J. Shopton, J. Hodges et al. 1756-1757. Two matted, of the period engravings from The British Herbal, a History of Plants & Trees, Natives of Britain, Cultivated for Use or raised for Beauty. The first Plate #66, Common Yarrow, Yellow Yarrow, Common Little Daisy, Great Daisy, Common Chamomille, etc. (#49346.1), and Plate #17, Round leav'd Fluellin, Corner'd Leav'd Fluelin, Cymbalaria, etc. (#49344.1). Both measuring 16 1/2" high x 10 1/4" wide.
'The genera and species are clearly described in The British herbal, and the work is of importance as being one of the first publications to appear after [Linnaeus'] Species plantarum of 1753, the year internationally accepted as the starting-point for modern botanical nomenclature. A number of generic names used by pre-Linnaean authors, but suppressed by Linnaeus, retain here their first pre-Linnean significance, and were thus restored to botanical nomenclature... The British herbal is also of interest for Hill's criticism of Linnaeus. Although Hill admired and often praised the latter, he did not hesitate to express his opinions when they differed from those of Linnaeus. Many examples of Hill's censures are to be found in The British herbal, and Druce has pointed out that in this work Hill 'criticizes Linnaeus quite fairly and strongly but not with acridity, and shows again and again where that illustrious botanist went wrong' (Henrey). Estimate $200-300
Provenance: The Old Print Gallery, Washington, DC.
Areas of foxing to both, a rough edge on left side of both sheets associated with being bound.
