TRACTATUS DE HERBIS: A FACSIMILE LIMITED EDITION, REPRODUCED FROM THE MANUSCRIPT "EGERTON MS 747" IN THE BRITISH LIBRARY. THIS IS EDITION NUMBER 781 OF 1000. COMMENTARY: MINTA COLLINS, LIST OF PLANTS: SANDRA RAPHAEL. THE FOLIO SOCIETY

A large stunning goatskin leather bound hardback book, with gilt titles on both front board and spine, set beautifully in a presentation green box, along with a smaller book titled "Tractatus de Herbis Commentary". Both books are in exceptionally good condition, as new and as the books are used, normal wear, marks and tear apply consistent with use and age. Published by The Folio Society in 2002, this facsimile edition has been reproduced from the manuscript "Egerton MS 747 in the British Library through digital photography by Laurence Pordes, printed at The Bath Press, Glasgow, on Phoenix Motion Xenon Paper. This specific edition of 1000 copies has been bound for members of The Folio Society by Smith Settle of Otley in full goatskin leather, with leather onlays, over bevelled boards, blocked with a design by David Eccles, with handmade laid paper endleaves from Fabriano mill. This is copy number 781 of 1000. The smaller book titled "Tractatus de Herbis Commentary" is set in Ehrhart at The Folio Society, printed in Great Britain by The Bath Press, Bath, on St Paul's Wove paper, and bound by them in buckram with Fabriano Roma paper sides. Beautiful gilt edge to papers. Please note as this is a large heavy item once packaged with care for shipping, postage/shipping may increase from listed postage/shipping price depending on final destination. The magnificent "Tractatus de Herbis" reproduced for the first time, is one of the many rare and precious manuscripts in the collection of the British Library. Its an illustrated herbal, which comes from a collection of pharmacological texts written in Southern Italy around AD 1300, known as British Library, Egerton MS 747. The herbal is a unique link in the transmission of knowledge of medicinal simples between the ancient world and modern times and is particularly important because it is the first surviving, and probably the original, manuscript of the "Tractatus de herbis" type. It combines a vast corpus of information about plants and their medical uses, inherited from Greek, Roman and Arabic sources, with paintings of plants which in their observation of nature, anticipate modern botanical illustrations. An exceptional work of art, that truly embodies the wonderful work of artists, historians, publishers, editors, printers, book-binders alike, and the past human society that had the foresight to put the original manuscript together for us and future generations. A true treasure of past and future knowledge bound in one book.