Hughes, William. First edition of an important description of Caribbean flora

HUGHES, WILLIAM

THE AMERICAN PHYSITIAN; OR, A TREATISE OF THE ROOTS, PLANTS, TREES, SHRUBS, FRUIT, HERBS GROWING IN THE ENGLISH PLANTATIONS IN AMERICA WHEREUNTO IS ADDED A DISCOURSE OF THE CACAO-NUT-TREE, AND THE USE OF ITS FRUIT; WITH ALL THE WAYS OF MAKING OF CHOCOLATE, ETC. LONDON: J[AMES] C[OTTRELL] FOR WILLIAM CROOK, 1672.

12mo. (135 x 75 mm). Occasional spot or some browning, but generally a very nice copy, British Museum stamp and deaccession stamp on blank verso of title and last blank page of 6-page printer's catalog at rear. Contemporary blind-ruled sheep; worn with old calf rebacking.

First edition of an important description of Caribbean flora

The author's work herein is original, rather than merely recycled from other accounts, compiled "whilst I abode in the West-Indies, and especially in the Island of Jamaica." Among the descriptions of such exotics as potatoes, maize, bananas, avocados, chili peppers and watermelons, Hughes goes into great detail on chocolate, particularly the drinking of this "American Nectar." Upon his return to England from the West Indies, Hughes tended the gardens for the dowager Viscountess Conway at Ragley in Warwickshire.

Rare. The present copy is one of only four that we can trace at auction since 1971.

REFERENCE:

ESTC R16182; Henrey 203; Sabin 33605; Wing H-3332