Herbal | Manuscript in Dutch with coloured woodcuts, early eighteenth century, vellum

Herbal

Manuscript herbal in Dutch on paper. [Holland, early eighteenth century]

folio (445 x 278mm.), ff. 2 (blank, with woodcut border pasted to verso of first leaf), 75 (text A-Z), 1 (blank except for blue-printed border pasted in with arms of Amsterdam), 49 (another text A-Z), [stubs from around 20 excised leaves], 44 (blank leaves), all ruled in red, manuscript text with hand-coloured woodcut illustrations pasted in, one cut-out illustration loose at front, a few loose sheets of manuscript text, paper by J. Villedary watermarked with a Strassburg bend and lily and the countermark IV (Churchill 437, dated to 1722), contemporary vellum, one catchplate remaining from two clasps, flyleaves slightly soiled and torn, leaf with Atriplex olidae torn, a few small tears or stains, hinges broken, binding soiled

This attractive manuscript contains two series of alphabetical descriptions of plants, with woodcut illustrations cut out from the 1568 Antwerp edition of the Cruyde-boeck by Rembert Dodoens and pasted next to the relevant text. The text, however, is not that of Dodoens, and is arranged in two alphabetical sequences (Abies alba-Winteranus cortex; Abutilon-Zeopyron).

PROVENANCE

Received from the Hartkamp the sum of 7[?]-10 stuivers on [?] February 1782, manuscript note in Dutch on front flyleaf; crossed-through inscription at end mentioning Catharina and the date 21 August 1764