Written in French by Monsieur Pomet, Chief druggist to the late French King Lewis XIV. (Translated into English) To which is added what is farther observable on the same Subject, from Ms. Lemery and Tournefort, Divided into Three Classes, Vegetable, Animal and Mineral; With their Use in Physic, Chemistry, Pharmacy, And several other Arts.

Illustrated with above four hundred copper-cuts, curiously done from the life; and an explanation of their different names, places of growth, and countries where they are produced; with the methods of distinguishing the Genuine and Perfect, from the adulterated, sophisticated, and decayed; together with their virtues. A work of very great use and curiosity. Done into English from the Originals..

London: J. and J. Bonwicke, 1748.

xx + pp1-220 (9 Books) + pp1 - pp202 (6 Books + Appendix) + x (Index and single page pub ad). Collated and complete with 86 full page copperplate engravings. A very good copy, internally clean and bright.

A curious work of exoticism reflecting 18th century knowledge and fancy; for instance that Amber is produced in the earth, that Ambergris is a form of beeswax and that there exist only 7 metals. Sandra Sherman argues that “although the History was concerned with offering useful medical information, natural history allied with exotic drugs was also a selling point”. Many of the entries have little to do with medicine, offering delightful accounts of how certain substances are grown and collected and even, in the entry on medicinal ivory, how dragons destroy elephants by: “wind[ing] themselves about the Legs of the Elephants; and then thrusting their Heads up their Nostrils they put out their Eyes, sting them, and suck their Blood ‘till they are dead.”

Chip aprox 1cm x 1cm to center of f.f.e.p. Chip to plate 75, 6cmx0.4cm to fore edge corner, not encroaching into the image. Chip at pp165 aprox 2cm x 1cm at fore edge corner, not encroaching into the printed area. Final leaf folded and creased with a central tear about 6cm. Gutters reinforced, eps folded and creased. Previous owner’s ink inscription to head of spine corner of front paste down which reads: J Ayre LpV 1752. Some light offsetting of the plates.

Sherman, S. (2004). The exotic world of Pierre Pomet’s A Compleat History of Druggs.

Endeavour, 28(4), 156–160.

Rebound in vellum.

216mm x 258mm

R40,000