Detail book

The British Herbal: an history of plants and trees, natives of Britain, cultivated for use, or raised for beauty. By John Hill, M. D.

Farmaceutica Erbari

John Hall’s "British Herbal" is one of a series of popular English herbals from the 18th century. It is initially published in weekly installments in 1756 and is complete within a year. The following year the same work is reprinted in a color volume that enjoys broad success. This interest is due above all to its images and resulting didactic usefulness. In each plate (75 in all), numerous illustrations are presented, often of the same species in all of its varieties. We invite you to take a look at the images on our site. Hill himself has produced the drawings as well as, it would seem, the copper engravings. Especially noteworthy is the frontispiece depicting the Genius of Good Health receiving the homage of the four continents which in turn will be given to the English readers. The plants for "use" and those for "beauty" come from the United Kingdom and, in small part, from the rest of the world. The classification is binomial following Linnaeus’ example of a few years prior. The virtues of the plants are listed with additions and pleasant commentary by the Author.

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