Name/Title
Medicina Britannica: A Treatise on Such Physical PlantsDescription
(FRANKLIN IMPRINT). SHORT, Thomas. Medicina Britannica: A Treatise on Such Physical Plants, as Are Generally To Be Found in the Fields or Gardens in Great-Britain: Containing a Particular Account of Their Nature, Virtues, and Uses. Together with the Observations of the Most Learned Physicians, as Well Ancient and Modern, Communicated to the Late Ingenious Mr. Ray, and the Learned Dr. Sim. Pauli. Adapted More Especially to the Occasions of Those, Whose Condition or Situation of Life Deprives Them, in a Great Measure, of the Helps of the Learned. By Tho. Short, of Sheffield, M.D. To Which Is Added, An Appendix: Containing the True Preparation, Preservation, Uses and Doses of Most Forms of Remedies Necessary for Private Families. The Third Edition. With a Preface by Mr. John Bartram, Botanist of Pennsylvania, and His Notes throughout the Work, Shewing the Places Where Many of the Described Plants Are To Be Found in These Parts of America, Their Differences in Name, Appearance and Virtue, from Those of the Same Kind in Europe; and an Appendix, Containing a Description of a Number of Plants Peculiar to America, Their Uses, Virtues, &c. Phila.: B. Franklin, and D. Hall, 1751. 3rd ed. xx,339,40,7pp. Rare, Worldcat locates eight copies.
"The copy text for the Franklin and Hall printing was the London ‚ 'Second edition' of 1747, in fact a reissue of the sheets of the original 1746 London printing with a new title-page and an added appendix which appeared also in the Phila. edition" (Miller). The noted Philadelphia botanist John Bartram (1699-1777) added his preface (pp. vxii-xx), American notes (interspersed throughout), and a second appendix (pp. 1-7) to the London text. Bartram's contributions make this one of the earliest American botanical works. Bartram describes where medicinal plants may be found in America and how they differed from the European varieties. Bartram's appendix describes a number of plants and their uses.
This work is very rare in the trade. We can locate only four copies sold at auction: the Brinley sale of 1880, two copies in the Pennypacker sale of 1903 (both with some damage), and one other. Besides these Rosenbach offered a copy in 1917 and Goodspeed in the 1930s. Though Hildeburn and Campbell note a variant edition of this work without "Medicina Britannica: or" at the head of the title page, but this was based on a damaged leaf that was skillfully repaired. This is the sole edition of this work printed by Franklin and Hall.Other Names and Numbers
Other Number
Miller 546. Evans 6783. Austin1743-1744. Hildeburn 1240, 1240a, 2168. Campbell 478-479, 724. Hunt542. Sabin 80573-80574Condition
Notes
Period-style full calf, bordered in blind, raised spine bands, gilt-lettered red morocco spine label, gilt-ornamental edges. Light scattered foxing and toning, else a very good or better copy.