[üHortus sanitatis]

Ortus sanitatis.

Strasbourg: Johann Prüss, not after 21 Oct. 1497. Tractatus de animalibus and Tractatus de vrinis have separate half title pages. Imprint from Goff. References: Hain-Copinger *8941; Goff H-487; Hunt 10. Contents: (from t.p.) De herbis et plantis; De animalibus [et symbol] reptilibus; De auibus et volatilibus; De piscibus [et symbol] natatilibus; De lapidibus [et symbol] in terra venis nascetibus; De vrinis et earum spiciebus; Tabula medicinalis cum directorio generali per omnes tractatus.

This is a reprint by Prüss of Meydenbach's edition published in 1491. No author has been identified for this work, but it endures as a compilation of material from various sources done by or for Jacob Meydenback of Mainz, publisher of the first edition. This second edition was printed between the beginning of August and the end of October,1497, and retains the style and outlook of the Middle Ages. Some of the herbs listed are given expanded treatment, and additional material is included on animals, birds, fishes, and stones. It is richly illustrated and deals exclusively with plants from the Old World. No plants from the newly-discovered Americas are included. At the time it was the largest herbal ever compiled, containing 1,066 chapters. Most of the woodcuts are copied from the first edition, with the addition of a few new illustrations. It was later translated from the original Latin into French, English, German, and Dutch.

Subjects: Medicinal plants; Medicine; Botany--Pre-Linnean works.

PAT-127